OFFICIAL Braves Thread: 2nd best record in the NL AND their 13th STRAIGHT

[raystorm]

Yea.. the Phils seem a bit overrated, while the Mets are playing better than anyone expected. I remember everyone saying the Mets would finish dead last like the last 2 seasons before the season started. These are not the same Mets, they are much better and I see them being competitive till the end. Braves are typical Braves..they seem to find a way to get back up there.

So far the Mets are 8-5 against the Phillies, 3-3 against the Braves, 4-3 against the Expos and a lousy 3-7 against the Marlins. Now they are gonna face Willis tomorrow who they have never beaten. I hope this time is different.

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: raystorm
Yea.. the Phils seem a bit overrated, while the Mets are playing better than anyone expected. I remember everyone saying the Mets would finish dead last like the last 2 seasons before the season started. These are not the same Mets, they are much better and I see them being competitive till the end. Braves are typical Braves..they seem to find a way to get back up there.

So far the Mets are 8-5 against the Phillies, 3-3 against the Braves, 4-3 against the Expos and a lousy 3-7 against the Marlins. Now they are gonna face Willis tomorrow who they have never beaten. I hope this time is different.

the difference in the division really is, divisional records.

braves are 27-15 vs the division. the only team even close is the marlins at 22-13, whom the braves totally own.

the braves have 2 games vs the philles coming up in atlanta, it would be surprising if the braves didn't sweep this series.

 

[murphy55d]

The thing that sticks to me is remember when Schuerholz traded Millwood for Estrada 2 yrs ago, and EVERYONE said "well just hand the division to Philly now, what a horrible deal, this is the end of the Braves run, etc etc"? Turns out Schuerholz did it again, Millwood has been a flop for Philly and Estrada has been the best catcher inthe national league this year. Schuerholz and Cox are both unbelievable.

 

[Farmer]

Does it even matter? All they're gonna do is lose in the NLDS. Go Mets! Getting Giles back will definitely bolster the team batting-wise and baserunning-wise. I have no idea about pitching stats, but it seems that the Braves 1-2-3 punch with Maddux-Ortiz-(good) Hampton is gone, with Maddux on the Cubs, Hampton sucking and Ortiz bearing the load (and quite well).

Yanks and Cards are not shoo-ins. Both Bosox and Cubs have very good chances (well, maybe not the Sox, but Cubs just got Wood back, Prior and Maddux are doing alright and 4 and 5 Clement and all -star Zambrano have been spectacular in the first half). The Cubs' problem is that they havn't been able to win intradivision games, esp. vs. Cardinals @ Busch stadium (which they've never been able to do), while they have owned supposed contender Astros.

Yanks? I don't know. I don't care. Wildcard hopes for BoSox

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: murphy55d
The thing that sticks to me is remember when Schuerholz traded Millwood for Estrada 2 yrs ago, and EVERYONE said "well just hand the division to Philly now, what a horrible deal, this is the end of the Braves run, etc etc"? Turns out Schuerholz did it again, Millwood has been a flop for Philly and Estrada has been the best catcher inthe national league this year. Schuerholz and Cox are both unbelievable.

funny thing is you're right about Estrada, with Pudge and Javy gone to the AL and Piazza moved to 1st, Estrada definitely makes top 3 among NL catchers right now and could easily be considered #1. also, he was VERY valuable to the braves as his offense more or less carried them for about 3 weeks.

ya, they saw something in millwood and estrada that no one else saw. the only mistake they made in my opinion was letting maddux go to arbitration and not keeping glavine. if they had kept glavine and let maddux go FA, glavine would still be winning 13 - 18 / yr for them.

but the thing is, their rotation is now starting to look pretty good tho, no true #1 in the whole lot, but a bunch of #2's and #3's, with Wright a potential to be a #1, he's always had the physical stuff, just questions about his head.

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: Farmer
Does it even matter? All they're gonna do is lose in the NLDS. Go Mets! Getting Giles back will definitely bolster the team batting-wise and baserunning-wise. I have no idea about pitching stats, but it seems that the Braves 1-2-3 punch with Maddux-Ortiz-(good) Hampton is gone, with Maddux on the Cubs, Hampton sucking and Ortiz bearing the load (and quite well).

Yanks and Cards are not shoo-ins. Both Bosox and Cubs have very good chances (well, maybe not the Sox, but Cubs just got Wood back, Prior and Maddux are doing alright and 4 and 5 Clement and all -star Zambrano have been spectacular in the first half). The Cubs' problem is that they havn't been able to win intradivision games, esp. vs. Cardinals @ Busch stadium (which they've never been able to do), while they have owned supposed contender Astros.

Yanks? I don't know. I don't care. Wildcard hopes for BoSox

it scares me that people appreciate long term excellence, sure the braves won only one world series, but they have been IN it year in and year out for 14.5 yrs, even the year no one won the division due to the strike, it wasn't a shoe in the braves wouldn't win that year.

that people prefer the diamondbacks and marlins of the world, one year flash wonders, vs the long term excellence the braves have accomplished saddens me. it's pretty tough to do what the braves have done this last decade and a half.

 

[raystorm]

I'm sure Schuerholz had NO clue Estrada would turn out this good. I'm sure the Phillies are pretty pissed about that trade. Guess all Estrada really needed was an opportunity to play everyday. He got that and has totally taken advantage. On top of that Estrada is dirt cheap (for now). As a Mets fan the only Brave I worry about in their upcoming series is Giles. Man...that kid has turned to one good hitter and I could see him becoming an all star. Like Estrada he finally got the chance to play everyday and has taken advantage of it. I hope he along with Larry Jones go on some cold streak when they show up at Shea.


by the way... Julio Franco is a freak.

 

[PoPPeR]

I hope JD Drew stays with the Braves. Time and time again, some player comes along, usually a pitcher, totally rejuvinates his career, then departs atlanta. We saw it with Sheffield last year.

That being said, I'm happy that when the Braves came to San Francisco this year, I went to the only game that they won 😀

 

[Farmer]

PlatinumGold:

No, I appreciate long-term suckiness: I'm a Cubs fan. 🙂

Well, with the kind of lineup they had last year, who wouldn't? But you're right. Look at Glavine this year, 7-8 with the 1.1 WHIP and lowest ERA in MLB?

Maddux doesn't seem to be himself this year. Ortiz may not have the greatest stuff, but he is a #1.

 

[chrisms]

Go Mariners.

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: Farmer
PlatinumGold:

No, I appreciate long-term suckiness: I'm a Cubs fan. 🙂

Well, with the kind of lineup they had last year, who wouldn't? But you're right. Look at Glavine this year, 7-8 with the 1.1 WHIP and lowest ERA in MLB?

Maddux doesn't seem to be himself this year. Ortiz may not have the greatest stuff, but he is a #1.

🙂

ya, but the question is, HOW did they manage to field the team they did last year on a payroll that may not have even cracked the top 10?? since turner got bought out, the spending hasn't been the same and yet, the braves have continued to win. if they win the division this year, you really have to give JS and Cox credit. it would be an amazing accomplishment.

 

[PoPPeR]

last years lineup did not look that great on paper. Javy Lopez had a career year like never before, as did Sheffield, Giles and Furcal. Anytime you have 4 players of that caliber have all-star years, your going to win a lot, especially since the Braves pitching, though not spectacular, held up pretty well.

JS and Cox are two of the best in the game, no question about it. Players say it, other teams say it, analysts say it, everyone but the fans who blame those two for not getting it done in the postseason.

Even though they are two of the best at what they do, I think a change might prove to be benefical to the Braves, hopefully drawing more fans, increasing their budget, etc.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: FarmerMaddux doesn't seem to be himself this year. Ortiz may not have the greatest stuff, but he is a #1.

Maddux hasn't been himself in three years. He was showing signs of wearing down his second to last season with the Braves. He was regularly getting beat up on the in the early innings and was having trouble making it to the seventh inning.

It's a shame too. Maddux and Glavine had possibly the best sports commercial ever - "Chicks dig the long ball."

 

[PlatinumGold]

all i know is i'm going to a Phillies-Braves game on August 31, in Philadelphia, will be cool to see the new park, last baseball game i went to actually was in old phillies stadium.

when i bought the tickets about 1 month ago tho, no one imagined that this game would have any divisional significance, but now, it could be a deciding game between these two teams.

too cool

 

[Farmer]

Too cool is right. Did you get lower deck seats?

Well, I've never been to Philly, so I havn't been to Citizen's Bank Park, but, from the TV, it sure looks nice, with that fan deck and the restaurants. Philly must have nice atmosphere too.

 

[PoPPeR]

i would have loved to see a Phillies/Braves game, but the fantasy part of me wouldn't know who to vote for.

I have Thome/Abreu on my fantasy team, but I also have Drew, Giles, and Furcal.

My wish would be a 30-29 game with the Braves coming out on top and thome/abreu/drew/giles/furcal going 30/30 😀

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: Farmer
Too cool is right. Did you get lower deck seats?

Well, I've never been to Philly, so I havn't been to Citizen's Bank Park, but, from the TV, it sure looks nice, with that fan deck and the restaurants. Philly must have nice atmosphere too.

section 129, row 25. not sure, i know it's behind the visitors dug out, which works well for me as a braves fan. 🙂

 

[PoPPeR]

indeed. I just got back from the A's game (section 126, field level, row 22, A's side) and it was great. Hot like no other, but great anyways. Even better, all the tickets were free 😀

Oh yeah, and since Mulder struck out 8, everyone in the park got a coupon for a free 2 liter pepsi product, and the handing them out gave me 2 😀

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: PoPPeR
indeed. I just got back from the A's game (section 126, field level, row 22, A's side) and it was great. Hot like no other, but great anyways. Even better, all the tickets were free 😀

Oh yeah, and since Mulder struck out 8, everyone in the park got a coupon for a free 2 liter pepsi product, and the handing them out gave me 2 😀

http://www.ticketsnow.com/maps/index.cfm?vid=3125&mapfile=3125-1-3-main.gif&VName=Citizens%20Bank%20Park

section 129 is the one right next to section A, it is the lower level.

i got 2 tickets for $40.00 from a friend. pretty good deal.

looks like great seats from the map there.

 

[PoPPeR]

Originally posted by: PlatinumGold

Originally posted by: PoPPeR
indeed. I just got back from the A's game (section 126, field level, row 22, A's side) and it was great. Hot like no other, but great anyways. Even better, all the tickets were free 😀

Oh yeah, and since Mulder struck out 8, everyone in the park got a coupon for a free 2 liter pepsi product, and the handing them out gave me 2 😀

http://www.ticketsnow.com/maps/index.cfm?vid=3125&mapfile=3125-1-3-main.gif&VName=Citizens%20Bank%20Park

section 129 is the one right next to section A, it is the lower level.

i got 2 tickets for $40.00 from a friend. pretty good deal.

looks like great seats from the map there.

ooo, looks nice. Last year for the A's/Red Sox playoff game 2, I had seats basically on top of the A's dugout (on the citizens park map, that'd be like section 129-131, but it was row 3 😀 Free tickets again, and the A's won (only to lose the next 3 games lol)

 

[mwtgg]

Originally posted by: PlatinumGold

Originally posted by: Farmer
Too cool is right. Did you get lower deck seats?

Well, I've never been to Philly, so I havn't been to Citizen's Bank Park, but, from the TV, it sure looks nice, with that fan deck and the restaurants. Philly must have nice atmosphere too.

section 129, row 25. not sure, i know it's behind the visitors dug out, which works well for me as a braves fan. 🙂

I went there on June 14th to see the Phils face the Reds.. Yes, I saw Thome's 400th, and no I was no where near it. Those are awesome seats, and I hope you enjoy yourself there.

The atmosphere is excellent, and being that close to the field, you won't encounter many drunk Phils fans. 😉

 

[KnickNut3]

Originally posted by: PlatinumGold

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: PlatinumGold

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: PlatinumGold
JS and Bobby Cox have worked miracles with a relatively limited budget.

Bobby Cox proves time and time again how good of a manager he really is, too bad they just never seem to be able to put it together in the post season.

he just sux in the post season tho. he can't seem to do what jack mckeon did last year. let his best players play and get out of the way. cox way overmanages in the post season.

but he is great during the regular season tho.

Yep, and it's a real heartbreaker for me, especially considering I'm a Braves fan that lives in NY. Damn Yankees fans.

i'm a braves fan in NJ. so i know how it is. 🙂

Ditto. I never had many friends in high school in October 🙂

 

[PlatinumGold]

Braves-Phillies, 4-1 top of the 7th, Thome hits a solo HR to make it 4-2, it then becomes phillies on 1st and 2nd, 1 out, Hampton is at 90+ pitches, Cox LEAVES him in the game to pitch to Lieberthal. count goes to 3-2, runners taking off, Hampton gets a DOUBLE PLAY grounder to 3rd from lieberthal to end the inning.

that right there may have been the divisional race for the NL East.

braves on a TEAR.

 

[rh71]

this would matter... if it were later in the year.... how many more games are left?

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: rh71
this would matter... if it were later in the year.... how many more games are left?

it's obviously impossible to say now, but i think we are going to look back at this moment at the end of the season and say it was crucial. especially if the braves win tonite and tomorrow nite and never relenquish first place in the division again.