Game 7 in Atlanta!
The excitement leading up to this game was so palpable and so intense that words cannot describe it. As Dusty put it in the last game thread, “tonight is Game 7 of our NLCS with the Dodgers. We shocked the world by taking the first two, only to see LA reel off three straight. Flowers had the dramatic decisive blow to send us to a game 7 tonight where it’s former Brave Alex Wood against newcomer Newcomb.â€
Indeed, how many crucial game sevens had Atlanta fans witnessed in their home park in the fifty year history of the Atlanta Braves? Given the remarkable run of October baseball from 1991-2005, it’s not as many as you might think. The most famous of course is the 1992 NLCS against the Pirates—Francisco Cabrera, Sid slid, Braves Win! Braves Win! Braves Win! Braves Win! I never tire of hearing Skip on the call: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYIPtLDWx-s. (BTW, tonight was the ninth anniversary of the death of Skip Caray; he was a gem.)
There was the 1996 NLCS against the Cardinals in which the Braves overcame a three games to one deficit and won three straight to win the pennant and advance to the World Series. That game seven in Atlanta, though, was anti-climactic as the Braves won 15-0.
And that’s it.* So no wonder everyone was so eagerly anticipating this game seven.
Well, maybe not so much. Man, I miss October baseball. I yearn for real game sevens instead of fake ones. But the cold hard truth is that this Braves team is a long way from competing in October. The Phillies are a very bad team, and the Braves have lost 9 of 11 to them. Yet against the Dodgers, who are having a phenomenal season, our Braves somehow managed to split the first six games of the season series (in fact, no one else has beaten the Dodgers in the last month). So, if the Braves could win this last game against the Dodgers and win the season series, that would be something.
But alas, even that minor consolation was not to be. Sean Newcomb again showed flashes of what he could be, but he also showed what he currently is, which is someone who walks way too many batters to be a successful starting pitcher in the big leagues. His line in 4 2/3 innings: 7 K’s, 7 walks, 4 hits and 3 runs. And 110 pitches! Jason Hursh gave up three more runs, and Ian Krol one more—because Ian Krol.
Offensively, the Braves didn’t have much going through the first 8 innings. They did have two memorable hits in the game. Early in the game Markakis got his 2000th career hit. In the 9th, Ozzie Albies, whose streak of reaching base in every game was already intact thanks to a walk, got his first big league hit—a three run homer to left. Too little too late to affect the outcome, but it’s exciting to see the kid up and playing. Even with just the one hit, his OPS is now .864.
Our old friend Alex Wood pitched six strong innings. In the 5th, when the outcome was still in doubt, the Braves loaded the bases with no outs. Thanks to a pickoff at second base and a double play, the Braves got nothing. That sequence was the most important in the game.
You know, every time I start to feel good about the trades and picks Coppy has made, I see Alex Wood and I’m reminded of the trade that should not be mentioned. That deal is still absolutely inexplicable.
Unlike a loss in an October game seven, the Braves live to play another day. Marlins in for three for the weekend.
*You recall that the clinching game in the 1995 World Series in Atlanta Fulton County Stadium was Game 6 of the series, and the greatest game seven in World Series history, in 1991, was played in Minnesota.
The first of many for Ozhaino, I’m sure.
Boy, it would be nice if Sean Newcomb could get someone to tell him where the strike zone is.
Credit where it is due, that is a sweet looking RH swing…
Sorry I missed Albies’ first hit, but I’m pleased with the extra sleep.
Thanks, tfloyd.
Bo Braves.
I think the Dodgers won that one trade we made.
tfloyd
would prefer to be employed
for post season ball
but what if we never get there at all?
good on ya recap, thanks.
AJC says Wisler is a reliever now. For his sake and our enjoyment, hope he does well.
@4, we can still win the trade if Joey Wentz makes the hall of fame.
I’m beginning to think that the Dodgers may be better than the Braves.
I just reacquainted myself (again; I’m a masochist) with the Alex Wood trade. We acquired three actual human beings and a draft pick for Alex Wood, Luis Avilan, Jose Peraza, Bronson Arroyo and Jim Johnson (!!). None of Hector Olivera, Paco Rodriguez or Zachary Bird have played a single inning of professional ball in 2017.
I’m glad we won’t face the Dodgers for the rest of the season so that we can’t be reminded of, by far, Coppy’s worst trade. And with how BIG the trade is, it’s almost incomprehensible that NO ONE from the trade panned out. It’s not like losing on a one-for-one swap. It’s like losing 2-3 trades all in one. Something as simple as Rodriguez pitching 30 non-meaningful relief innings a la Chris Withrow would at least be something. Maybe Joey Wentz will survive the 60-80% failure rate and be a back-of-the-rotation starter 4 years from now.
@ 9 Now that Wisler is reportedly a reliever, perhaps we should reacquaint ourselves with the Kimbrel trade?
Spilt milk.
Danville
William Contreras
may the good Lord prepare us
for joy everlasting
enough of this fasting.
.330/.425/.510/ OPS.935/ISO .180/ BB 17%, K 15%
Catcher b.1997
Either 100 AB or 1000…am trying to establish which key is stuck.
Ventura for international slot and $. Not complaining, but I do not understand.
It becomes clear. We gave up the slot and dollars. Don’t we already have a Ventura?
Nope. It was our Ventura. Can we use international slot?
Jeez, conflicting reports. Help!
DeRosa on Markakis’ 2000th hit
https://www.mlb.com/video/mlb-central-markakis-milestone/c-1686187983?tid=20812682
Thank you, Remy.
@15, we sold him to the Reds for international pool money.
Thought this was interesting…
http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/showthread.php?t=280494
@19
13th largest market + Good stadium deal – Bad TV deal – Cheap Owners = 19th OD Payroll in 2017 that has since decreased. Franchise in a nut shell.
@18
Why are we collecting bonus pool money? I hope it’s for a deal to get a big contract from a rebuilding team. Come full circle on the food chain.
That’s a good guess Rob. I don’t think we can do much with the money, but other teams can. I wonder if that other team rhymes with Betroit Ligers.
@22
You’d think that’d be a blueprint for getting a tough deal done. Sell a bunch of players off for international bonus pool money so you can send a bunch of it to a team so that they can buy talent in the cheapest talent market. With the way things are, that’s probably the most valuable commodity in the market.
QUOTE Ozzie ALLLbeeze
pronunciation pleeze
make a note
UNQUOTE.
I read that as All Breeze, which is not nice, blazon. Be ashamed.
@10 Is no one gonna tell Rob to buck up?
Not going to see them again in the REGULAR season.
@11 – If you’re suggesting that Wisler could be the next Kimbrel, I like the way you think.
According to what Jim Powell reported, Acuna needs to be playing in a more advanced league.
Bartolo had a CG tonight. We live in an unjust world.
I mean, we cut him. Seems fairly just.
@16 Thanks Remy. I like Cakes.
I am also confused about these international pool money trades. Do the Braves get real money in this trade or do they just get an increased budget to spend on international players?
Recapped.