The Braves Can Blame Themselves, Like Always

Bobby Cox's last game as manager of the Atlanta Braves ends in a 3-2 loss, and like so many postseason games before it, everything in the world went against them: costly walks, barely hit baseballs going for hits, and of course, like sands through the hourglass, bad umpire calls.

The Giants were afforded the benefit of almost every close call, including one where Omar Infante may, or may not have, held second base on a fielder's choice that would have resulted in a tie game, men at first and third, and two outs, rather than tie game, bases loaded, and one out. And like all Braves games in the postseason seem to play out, the next guy struck out (which would have been the third out), and the next guy hit a single to left to give the Giants the lead.

The umpires are generally under fire like every official is in every playoff in every sport. Every playoff results in plays that under review should have gone the other way, in an alarming amount of instances. Because the play is more intense, and plays are closer than usual, calls are always harder, and I think game officials also get caught up in the emotion and are prone to mistakes.

This is called "the human element," and the argument goes, well, the players are human too and they make lots of mistakes. But as fans we accept that players make mistakes, especially since they are going against other humans, two opposing forces trying to stop each other. We are not as forgiving of officials. Their only opposition is their eyes and perception.

The theme throughout the season with umpire calls has been letting what might have happened get in the way of what probably happened. You get the call right most of the time by making the call that is simplest. The play at second base tonight: sure, Infante could have been pulled off the bag before he had possession of Alex Gonzalez's throw, but you can't possibly see that. It wasn't obvious. And even in slow motion replays, it was difficult to see what happened. So the right call is out regardless of what you think you saw. When in doubt, the ball beat the runner and you can't possibly say with any certainty he was off the bag before he caught the ball. This is the problem with a lot of the questionable calls this year.

Of course you have some that are just plain wrong, and those are the most brutal. But those happen less than the close play scenario where an ump inexplicably makes the call that is against common logic.

THAT SAID:

The Braves lost this series because of a punch-less lineup and bad defense. The pitching was stellar, and everything else was not. Injuries were an overrated topic, but yeah, I'd have liked to have Chipper and Martin Prado playing. The lineup had to fill holes with guys who are better suited for the bench and the weaknesses were glaring. I think there's no doubt the Braves win this series with those guys. But they should have won without them. The Giants were ripe to be beat. I don't think the Braves beat the Phillies in the next round, however, and I certainly don't think the Giants have a chance, even with their pitching. The Phillies just shut down the best hitting team in baseball. What are they going to do against a team that has way less offense?

I'll definitely miss Bobby Cox in the dugout. I have had a number of criticisms of his in-game management in the past and that I won't miss. But the guy is like your dad out there, you love him no matter what. All of my teams: the Braves, Titans, and Predators, have had the same guy leading them forever and I'm not used to change. I guess I'm lucky that way, but I'm looking forward to the Braves moving on.

Garbage

After Mike saw his Reds just gift-wrap a win to the Phillies, the Braves followed suit in Game 3 of the NLDS and yes, I blame Bobby Cox.

Brooks Conrad is now the most hated man in Atlanta after he committed three errors and allowed the Giants to win the game 3-2 over a Braves team that had just taken a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the eighth on an awesome line drive HR from Eric Hinske. I haven't been so elated in a long time. My hands were numb from clapping after that hit. The only problem is that Billy Wagner is hurt and they would have to use an unproven guy to close out the game. In comes Craig Kimbrel.

Kimbrel got a fly out on Cody Ross, then walked Travis Ishikawa, then struck out Andres Torres. With two outs, Kimbrel got Freddy Sanchez to swing at two pitches out of the zone and then inexplicably threw him a fastball down the middle on a 1-2 count. Sanchez singles, and up comes Aubrey Huff. Now, even though Aubrey Huff hits left-handers better than right-handers, Bobby Cox played the universal percentages and put in lefty Mike Dunn. Bad move. Huff singled, of course on a pitch he was fooled on, hitting a flair to right field in front of Jason Heyward. Tie game. Then Cox puts in Peter Moylan, who gets the ground ball he wants, but oh, if only Brooks Conrad weren't there to field it. It goes under his glove. Giants take the lead and an undeserved win after Brian Wilson comes in to close it out. And by the way, this patient approach Braves batters have has become a thorn in my side. Jason Heyward allowed a pitch that should have been hit in the stands to just go harmlessly by. And this happens too often.

But the Cox pitching change isn't what lost this game. It's the insistence to play Brooks Conrad that lost this game. I have never seen a man so loved during the season become such a hated person in such a short time. And it's not his fault, in my opinion. When a person becomes a liability in the field, and has made so many bad errors (he made a few that nearly cost the Braves a chance at the postseason), then it is the responsibility of the manager to pull that guy out of the starting lineup. Braves fans like Brooks Conrad when he's up late in the game and can possibly give you a nice pinch-hit HR or something (see the Reds game earlier in the year with the pinch-hit game-winning grand slam). He was never meant to be a guy out there in the field.

So what does Bobby Cox need to do? Seriously, is Troy Glaus that bad of a defender? Glaus should be at third and Omar Infante, who was placed at third when Conrad had fielding issues there, should be back at second where he is more comfortable. Glaus bailed out the Braves with a beautiful double play in Game 2 that if, unturned, would have lost the game. Plus, Glaus, as much as he struggled towards the end of the year, is a better bat. YOU CANNOT DO WORSE THAN THIS. Someone tackle Bobby Cox and explain this. YOU CANNOT DO WORSE THAN CONRAD. If Troy Glaus goes out there and makes three errors, no one will be hoping Brooks Conrad could have been in the game. Hell, I'll take the young Diory Hernandez if Troy Glaus can't go.

Cox will need to make this change because now, they're down 2-1 and the season is completely on the line. And Conrad can not be allowed to play in the field the rest of the playoffs. If he is allowed to play any more positions, this final season's destiny rests in Cox's hands and is his fault.

I was so excited after that Hinske HR. So excited. I can't tell you how hard of a crash that was when it fell apart.

The MLB Playoffs, 2010

UPDATE: One slight error I made was saying the Brewers didn't make the playoffs. I really meant, during the 1991-2005 stretch the Braves went regularly. The Brewers made it in 2008, and lost to the Phillies.

ALSO: I've made a lot out of the Braves facing all those different teams over the years (they've also played many teams multiple times). But the Yankees have also been to the playoffs enough now that they've faced everyone in the AL except the Royals, Rays, and Blue Jays. And while the Braves have faced 4 different AL teams in the World Series, the Yankees have faced off against 6 NL teams.

I know this time of year, people are absolutely immersed in football nowadays, and when your team muffs a kickoff in the last two minutes of the game to seal a victory for a team they had been beating all day, well, that's understandable.

Two of our bloggers have teams in this year's playoffs. Mike's Reds and my Braves, luckily not playing each other in the first round. There are many stories that can come out of these playoffs and I'd like to discuss them here.

First off, I've mentioned it before, but the Braves have played every franchise in the National League since 1991 in the playoffs at least once except for the teams that haven't made it: the Brewers and the Expos/Nationals. This series against the Giants will be the second time the two have faced off, and it's the second DS. The last one was in 2002 when Dusty Baker managed San Francisco and took that team to the World Series. It went five games.

Speaking of Baker, he has the chance to play his old team in the NLCS should the Reds and Giants advance. It's funny, I've never considered Baker a great manager. He's made some huge blunders in the postseason that stick out, especially that 2003 NLCS when he was with the Cubs, but he's now taken three teams into the playoffs and he was within an eyelash of winning the World Series in 2002.

Back to the Giants. This team hasn't won a World Series since 1954, and the team was in New York. They've been in San Francisco since 1957. So they're the team with the longest World Series drought:

The Tampa Bay Rays have been to a Series but they haven't been in existence long enough to qualify for drought status.

The Rangers have the second longest drought, and they've never been the World Series as this team or as the (2nd) Washington Senators. This dates back to 1961. They've been in Texas since 1971.

It'd be fun if the two old Washington Senators franchises faced off the the ALCS: the Twins and Rangers can both claim Washington D.C. as their original home. The Twins last won in 1991.

And of course the Yankees won last year. Screw the Yankees.

In the NL, the Reds haven't won since 1990.

Braves, 1995.

And the Phillies beat the Rays in 2008. Screw the Phillies.

There's only one true rematch on the board and that's Phillies/Yankees from last year (the franchises also played in 1950). Teams tend to change a lot over the years, so the closest to being an honest rematch after that is Phillies/Rays. But it's always fun to look at what possible historical rematches exist:

Braves/Yankees (Braves as Milwaukee in 1957 and 1958, then Atlanta in 1996, 1999)
Twins/Braves (1991)
Reds/Yankees (1939, 1961, 1976)
Giants/Twins (as Senators) (1924, 1933)
Giants/Yankees (and a fun reunion between old NY franchises) (1921. 1922, 1923, 1936, 1937, and then Giants as San Francisco in 1962)

By the way, when's the last time you saw two teams (Braves, Rays) in the playoffs who had no-hitters/perfect games pitched against them in the regular season?

Here's what I hope:

I'd like to see the Braves win it all, sure. But what I'd like to see is a World Series that lasts 7 games. We haven't had one since 2002. But even if a Series goes 7 it doesn't mean it's a good one. You've got to think 1986, 1991, 2001. Games that were competitive throughout. Even last year's Series between powerful teams like the Phillies and Yankees only went 6 and not much of it was compelling.

Here's what I think will happen:

My instinct says the LCS will be Yankees/Rays and Giants/Phillies. And I don't see anybody beating the Phillies when they have that kind of offense, bench, and starting pitching (Halladay, Oswalt, Hamels). It looks like a Phillies rematch with either the Yankees or Rays and both of those teams look like fodder. Guys, I hate the Phillies as much as one man can hate them, but those guys are awfully good. Scary good. Which is why the Reds must pull off an amazing upset and end the madness. They have the offense to do it. But jeez, the pitchers will have to be on their game.

From a Braves Fan:

What a nice surprise that this team ends up in the playoffs in Bobby Cox's final year. But man, did these guys look tired and hurt by the end of the year. It's amazing they're in after all that has happened. They lost two huge bats (Martin Prado and Chipper Jones, and I'll even include Troy Glaus as a third, who couldn't miss pitches in May and then suddenly became very bad afterwards), and it caused a domino effect in the lineup where the bench guys, who are good as bench guys, had to start every day.

But this frustrating September was marked by the feeble at-bats many batters had. Seriously, I could be drunk for the next ten days in a row (barring alcohol poisoning) for the number of shots I could have taken watching weak grounders/and or fly outs. Those fly outs weren't even close to the warning track. Sometimes you say, well, he flew out, but he hit it hard and maybe he'll get them next time. Give you some hope. But when you see those weak, outfielder-didn't-even-move kind of flies, it's demoralizing. And watching Alex Gonzalez swing the bat is brutal. He truly is all-or-nothing. Which means pitchers can throw slider after slider without repercussion.

What works out in favor for the Braves is they get three days off before they have to play again. Maybe those muscles will restore somewhat to health. Seriously, they didn't look like they had anything left, and the eight runs they scored yesterday were a miracle of sheer will.

Anyway, I'm going to love watching the games this year. It'll be fun in lieu of the mediocrity that is the Titans.

Go baseball.

I'm Glad This Is The Last Year of Bobby

The Atlanta Braves currently reside in 1st place, and will continue to do so no matter what happens tonight in Philadelphia. But that isn't the point. The point is, Bobby Cox lost a game his team was winning 10-1 today by doing the usual Bobby Cox nonsense that has likely cost this franchise a couple of extra championships over the years.

Of course, you won't hear that from anyone affiliated with the Braves, certainly not the usual SportSouth team of Chip Caray and the usually excellent Joe Simpson.

With a 10-1 lead, Braves starter Jair Jurrgens started to lose it a little bit, and he gave up 4 runs and it was suddenly 10-5. OK, well that's bound to happen in Coors Field, one of the most ridiculous parks ever due to the thin air and the extremely huge outfield. But, inexplicably, Jair was out there again in the 6th inning. And, inexplicably, he was out there as he continued to struggle. In comes Peter Moylan finally, but he starts walking guys, and before you know it, it's 10-8.

OK, so then things calm down a bit with new pitcher Eric O'Flaherty, and then the dependable Johnny Venters comes in the 7th and mows down Rockies batters. All right, way to go Johnny...now take your shower...oh, wait, you want him to pitch another inning? And wait, after he walks a .201 batter? And then the bases get loaded? He's still in the game after all that?

Players like playing for Bobby because he's a "players manager" but the loyalty goes way too far. Venters should not have started the 8th inning at all, and he definitely shouldn't have been there after he allowed the lead-off walk. The Braves have a million arms down in the bullpen and Bobby Cox wanted to pitch a guy who had not pitched more than 1 inning very much this season to pitch another inning in freaking Coors Field.

Losses like today's 12-10, 11-unanswered-run debacles lie squarely on Bobby's shoulders. I've had enough. There's a lot of good he brings the team, obviously, and the Braves ability to come back has been amazing this year, but when the game requires actual management, the Braves are screwed. If they make the postseason, can't wait for that usual "let's play the game like the regular season" thing the Braves always do.

Microcosm

Tonight's 5-4 loss to the Marlins is business as usual for the Braves. Let me tell you how this one ended:

Bases loaded, 2 out, one of the Braves' better hitters at the plate. They knocked out Marlins closer Leo Nunez after 2 unearned runs got them to 5-4. The excitement was palpable. There seemed to be nothing that was going to stop the Braves from at least tying this game. In comes Brendan Donnelly to relieve Nunez. He throws a pitch...a ball...it gets behind the catcher and he can't find it.

But Matt Diaz at 3rd can't see it either and is halfway down the line...Marlins catcher Ronny Paulino finds it and fires to third...Matt Diaz out...ballgame over.

In games like these, you're hoping for some sort of escape from this situation. The escape never comes. Your team lost on one of the rarest of plays, not to mention rare for a game-ender.

The Braves found themselves in this situation after falling behind the Marlins 5-0, a deficit brought on in big part by an error by Chipper Jones, who allowed a double-play grounder to go into left field earlier in the game and it led to 3 runs. A pitcher the Braves had batted over .370 against decided this was the night he would strike out 16 batters.

The deficit the Braves find themselves in with the standings has been brought on by losing not only these types of games, but the games where they had huge leads that were erased, notably in the 3rd game of the year against the Phillies in which they had a 10-3 lead heading into the 7th inning and somehow lost 12-11. The bullpen, in general, has been a strength of the Braves but they've blown it in the most crucial situations. In 48 save situations between closer Rafael Soriano and part-time closer Mike Gonzalez, they blew 13. In other save situations, the other relievers combined for a 1-for-12 clip, bringing their success rate to 24 blown saves out of 60.

Now, I'm not the type to say my team should have won each and every one of those, because the percentages will be against you on that. But what about half of them? 12 more wins. Hell, they'd be NL East leaders with just that, forget about the Wild Card.

With the way the Braves lost the past two games and the Titans lost this past Sunday, I have seen all of the things that are supposed to be positives for a team fail miserably.

If anyone wants to know why I don't believe in the things that I have railed against in the past, this is why. I've seen my team have what is known as momentum and watched them fail constantly. I've seen the crowd get behind my team, cheering lustily, to be let down. I've seen my team play with emotion and lose. In the end, your team of guys must make the plays that move them forward, and nothing else matters, regardless of how the energy changes in the building or the two teams.

What Is The Deal With The Titans?

It's the first game. It's just one game. Ultimately, it may not mean much for the season.

However, is there a team that loses more games like last night's 13-10 final against the Steelers than the Titans?

This post is very much woe-is-me and I'm sorry in advance for the complaints. But something is up.

It's all about plays, but it always seems like teams make absolute miracle plays against this team. Troy Polamalu's interception...I mean come on. Sort of reminds me of that Marvin Harrison stretched-out one-handed catch a few years ago. Somehow these teams, like the Ravens, find a way to block a field goal in these close contests. These are all rare plays, but happen to the Titans with alarming frequency. Didn't you just get a feeling on the blocked field goal attempt something bad was going to happen?

My point is, you don't see the Titans make these plays, ever. Yeah, they got that Hines Ward fumble late in regulation...near their own goal line. Couldn't force one anywhere meaningful, where you might position yourself to win the game. That's not a criticism...it's a comment on the serendipity of this team.

We had the fortunate experience of seeing the Music City Miracle ten years ago. I am not referring to plays like these. That truly was a miracle play. But remember the circumstances by which that play was necessary--the Titans had the lead the whole game and then found themselves behind...somehow. They dominated that game against the Bills and found themselves inexplicably in the position to lose it.

That New England playoff game a few years ago...Drew Bennett drops a sure catch in field goal range to tie it, not to mention the intentional grounding before that play that knocked them out of range in the first place.

Two Ravens losses in the playoffs after dominating both sides of the ball, but finding ways to lose possession and give up easy TDs and/or stopping drives near the Ravens' goal line. Plus, more blocked field goals.

The AFC Championship against the Raiders where the Titans got the lead, then were going to get the ball back, only to fumble it in their own territory and lose the lead going into halftime.

The Super Bowl where Anthony Dorsett tripped and fell and allowed Isaac Bruce to score an uncontested TD. Not to mention, the 1-yard-short play which was all kinds of wrong.

Between the Titans and the Braves, I think I've experienced enough highs knocked down to lows. I have heard a great many people say, "Well, I'd rather be in your position than to follow my team." I'd say, try it. It's clearly not fun. Back in the late eighties when all I had was a crappy Braves team and a just-as-crappy Falcons team, you could find solace in that they were bad and you didn't have to worry about it. You don't invest any heart in the matter because you know that they're not likely to go anywhere. You just hoped they could win this time. If they didn't, you expected it.

These teams (Titans, Braves) do not make the special plays necessary to win and/or the other teams do make the special plays necessary to win. Or, it's a bad decision or something that was a strength inexplicably turns into a weakness at the crucial time. It's a bad combination of lousy events that occur in games that will be close.

I'm just saying you would think with all the times I've seen a team I follow go to the postseason (or have the potential to go to the postseason), I would have seen numerous times where my team took control of the game and put it away, or at the very least, wouldn't allow the other team to make that big play. I can count the special plays on one hand probably, in 20+ years of following sports, that my team made. I would explode trying to count how many times a team made a play against my team.

Perhaps some of it is that I focus so much on the negative, I forget the positive. But going back through the ages, the only plays I can remember being truly amazing for my team and devastating for the other team are the Music City Miracle and Francisco Cabrera's game winning single in the 1992 NLCS against the Pirates (Pirates fans definitely know the pain). I can't even make a case for anything in the 1995 World Series run that truly fits: David Justice's HR in Game 6 that proved to be the game winner is close, but then I had to bite my nails through the rest of the game hoping the Indians didn't score.

I'm just looking for my team to make an important play in a meaningful way. It's ridiculously rare.