On July 3, 1966, Braves starting pitcher Tony Cloninger hit two grand slams and had an rbi single, driving in nine runs in a 17-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants. He was the first NL player and only pitcher to slug two grand slams in a game. Just two and a half weeks earlier, he hit two homers and drove in five in a 17-1 victory over the Mets. He went the distance in both starts.
On July 2, 2024, the Braves could have used Tony Cloninger against the Giants. Reynaldo Lopez was not as sharp as he usually is; he went 4 and a third, giving up two runs on back to back solo shots in the fifth inning. It took him 100 pitches to get to that point, as he did not have his usual command. Those two runs made it a 2-2 game. The Braves had taken a 2-0 lead on back to back jacks of their own in the second, by Riley and Murphy.
The normally reliable bullpen ended up surrendering three more runs. The Braves’ offense, meanwhile, despite the excitement of the early fireworks, reverted to its usual 2024 self, wasting several opportunities. They finally broke through in the 8th for a third run, but that was it. Final score: Giants 5, Braves 3, Braves fans at least 9 out of 10 on the frustration scale.
Clearly the Braves could use another bat or two. Folks here and elsewhere have suggested a plethora of names as trade targets. I generally trust AA to find the right fix. If I were to suggest someone, it would be to bring back the midsummer 1966 version of Tony Cloninger. Get it done, Alex.
Thanks, tfloyd.
Cloninger, Rick Wise, Rick Camp, Vida Blue, Hoyt Wilhelm, Terry Forster, Bartolo Colon – all examples of great trivia questions or memorable moments. Designated hitters make for better games; pitchers hitting made a better sport.
Amen.
Use Max Fried as a pinch hitter.
Reading trade deadline columns is depressing. The Dodgers have the prospect capital to load up and it seems like the Phillies are poised for a Dombrowski special, i.e., trading everything that’s not nailed down to put a really good team over the top for one or two years, then a complete collapse.
AA is great — better than Schuerholz in my opinion — but this may not be our year. There’s no plan B when this many guys are hurt and underperforming; the loss of depth from the international signing ban has finally caught up to us; and the rest of the prospect depth was used to lock the team into this roster because of two decisions — letting Freeman go and not believing in Contreras — that I fear we’ll be debating for a long time.
The only thing I’m holding my hat on is we’re probably getting into the playoffs no matter what. Get in and you have a chance.
If they can’t beat the teams they are supposed to now, then it will be another early exit
Look at the Phillies last year, mediocre except for the last month of the season and most of the playoffs. As long as the braves get hot in September, there’s always a chance.
Not feeling it this year, but you never know
Braves continue to play with a short bench today. Arcia and Laureano not available and no roster move.
Braves put men on second and third with no outs. Wall and Short immediately roll over weak ground balls to the drawn-in shortstop. Please fire them into the sun.
I guess I was too late with this comment. More infuriating play.
Runners on second and third with one out … and two pathetic ABs. A tale as old as this season itself.
Despite their mediocre play over the last couple of months, the Braves are highly likely to make the playoffs. And it’s still true that the playoffs are a crapshoot, so that anyone who’s in can go all the way.
But if Wall and Short get any at bats in October, forget the crapshoot metaphor; it will be absolutely impossible for the Braves to win.
that was a gawdawful replay call. Riley was safe.
The Braves are maddening.
The key situations always find Zack Short.
The ineptitude of this offense is extraordinary, but Forrest Wall bunting into a near-double play and then getting caught stealing should, with any justice at all, mark the end of his major league career in Atlanta.
The only thing preventing me from despising Zack Short as fully as he deserves is my all-consuming passionate annoyance at Wall.
Oddly, I liked that play. At least bunting and not striking out forces the defense to make a play. I also like the aggressiveness of the steal attempt and the attempt to score on the ground ball later. These are the Braves’ attempts at small ball. Riley should have attempted to go home or at least faked it when Wall tried to steal. I don’t think it’s ALL on Wall. The Braves have to do that kind of stuff up and down the lineup and not just at the bottom. But, yes, all the talk in the offseason about not bringing in quality bench players because of a lack of playing time was a bunch of hooey. This is what we get for that folly.
I see that William Contreras is the NL starting All-Star catcher……..
All the announcers talk about is Wall’s speed, and he just got thrown out by 5 feet with a runner on 3rd.
He has come up with a man on third and fewer than two outs and failed to drive him in at least four times over the last week or so just while I’ve had the misfortune of watching. It’s genuinely amazin’, in the 1962 Mets sense.
Failing to score with a runner on third and no outs is pretty difficult. It’s quite a feat to accomplish that so often.
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