Old mossback Braves fans hate LA back from the years Atlanta was placed in the Western Division. I always say this happened because Atlanta is in the westernmost part of the Eastern Timezone. And LA is still, of course, a formidable competitor: the back-to-back champs that you have to go through to get back to the World Series. And I still hate Tommy Lasorda. But as long as Freddie is a Dodger, you can’t hate them completely.
I have a good friend, a little older than me, whose life-altering experience as a child was losing a major league team, just a few years before my life-altering experience of gaining one. Once he had grown up and gotten educated, he moved to LA and worked directing soap operas just to be near the Dodgers. His son has the middle name Campanella. All of this is touching, and his devotion is close to mine, not one of those arriviste trend-following Left Coast posers. Losing to the Braves will break his heart.
Now, go break his heart.
Some boast they never doubted. I never fully believed. Didn’t expect to win a series and it seemed like Philly was just destined to have our postseason number. But now that we’ve advanced for the first time since 2021, it seems like anything could happen. Why not?
Walt Weiss just did something that not everyone has done, and certainly something that cannot be taken lightly with our particular team: he won a playoff series. He pushed a lot of the right buttons, as he did all year. He didn’t get everything right, but he did enough.
At some point in the offseason, still drunk on World Series victory celebrations, we need to discuss Walt Weiss. There are a few obvious things to start with: (a) nobody here thought he was a good pick — it was sort of a “I guess it’s your turn” pick; (b) he has consistently made bold managerial moves — that is decidedly unusual: Bobby Cox made none, Fredi Gonzalez made few, most of them idiotic, Brian Snitker made very few; (c) with rare exceptions, none of them are the Tony LaRussa SuperGenius moves that say “look at me… I’m playing chess here while the rest of you play tic-tac-toe”; and (d) the majority of them have worked (thus far).
Walt Weiss manages with a combination of calm and relentlessness. (Details upon request.) It is exactly what the franchise needed.
Hsmith do expound on that
After winning the last two World Series, Dodger fans deserve no sympathy when we knock them out of the playoffs.
If Atlanta lost that game yesterday, that would’ve been four straight playoff series against the Phillies lost and each time we had a better regular season record. We are now 12-15 in postseason series where we were the better regular season team. I would assume that we won’t play another team for the rest of the postseason where we were the better regular season team. Underdogs from here on out.
I see it as, starting in 1991, 12-14 in series where we had the better regular-season record, 0-1 in series where we had the same record, and 6-6 in series where we had the worse record. So 18-21 total, slightly underperforming what would be the average expectations (maybe 21-18 or 22-17?) but nothing that makes me think it’s anything more than luck, given that the opponents were also on average probably 90+win teams.
Mixing different eras, it looks pretty good.
The 90s Braves were fantastic teams that got a little unlucky in the playoffs but generally advanced.
From 2000-2019 we ran off an impressive string of defeats. Excepting one wild card series win from Houston in 2001, we lost what, 12 series including 10 consecutive?
The 2020 and beyond Braves have been much more successful, but that 2 decades of futility is what really earned the playoff loser reputation.
We’re underdogs to an injury-nicked, but still super-talented team that we somehow already beat 5 out of 6 games — works for me.
That ’93 NLCS loss to Philly, IMO, was one of the worst post-season losses in the 14-year run. That Braves team had just about everything.
I agree. Running down that Giants team, hence for a third consecutive year getting over on Barry Bonds, who I think was still a steroids-unaided-hence-tragi(comic)-hero-who-otherwise-might-have-ended-up-convincingly-one-of-the-best-if-not-the-best-baseball-players-of-all-time, was a noble effort. I think it took all the breath out of the lungs of an amazing team, then forced to play further against the ’93 Phillies, an ignoble bunch if there ever was one.
We outscored them easily for the series but lost 4 one-run games if I recall. That 93 team was a monster. Probably the best I’ve seen. Only lacked a shutdown closer and it did cost us.
Just watched the condensed game again. Ben Ingram is so good at his job. Goosebumps!
Fun facts: Ozzie Albies, who has been a Brave for so long (10 seasons) that if he retired today he would be eligible for the Hall of Fame in five years, is 2-1/2 years younger than Ray Kerr.
Ian Anderson, who apparently didn’t pitch in organized baseball this year, is almost four years younger than Ray Kerr.
I’m one of those “mossback” fans who well remembers the old West division rivalry with the Dodgers. But the truth is, you could count on one hand the number of years the Braves were remotely competitive with the Dodgers in that division. So yes, I hate Lasorda, but I’ve never hated the Dodgers. I try not to hate anyone, but I really dislike the Phillies, and the Mets, and the Cardinals. OTOH, I almost have a grudging admiration for the Dodgers as a franchise. Our son and his family live in LA, and we’ve been to Dodger stadium a good deal. Having said all that, I hope we trounce the Bums this week. Given LA’s excessive payroll, all decent people should be pulling for the Braves.
You know, this year’s Dodgers are a lot like the Phillies. Excellent rotation, but questionable bullpen. A few great but aging hitters, but several weak spots in the lineup. Unlike the Phils, though, they will have their starters lined up, so we’ll have to deal with a fully rested Skubal, Yamamoto, Snell, and Glasnow. But if we can hold their offense and keep it close until late innings, I like our chances.
That’s fair. I don’t think I hated the Dodgers as a franchise so much as particular players and, of course, Lasorda. Davey Lopes: fine. Steve Garvey: villain. Sandy Koufax: icon. Jerry Reuss: painful. Fernando Valenzuela: awesome. Dusty Baker: constant reminder of a horrible trade.
And today, it’s mostly just envy. Although it’s an interesting question of what AA would do if handed their budgets — sometimes necessity is the mother of invention and fabulous wealth creates the Mets.
Not saying Lasorda shouldn’t be hated for baseball reasons (I guess I’m too young to really know), but I did run into him probably 25ish years ago at Opryland Hotel, and he was nice and took pictures with us.
That’s it. That’s my story. You’ll never confuse me for ububba.
Did you tell him you were a Braves fan?
The always-gracious Mr. Lasorda’s most famous quote:
Lasorda responded: “What’s my opinion of Kingman’s performance!? What the f— do you think is my opinion of it? I think it was f—— horse s—! Put that in, I don’t f—— care. Opinion of his performance? Jesus Christ, he beat us with three f—— home runs! What the f— do you mean, ‘What is my opinion of his performance?’ How could you ask me a question like that, ‘What is my opinion of his performance?’ Jesus Christ, he hit three home runs! Jesus Christ! I’m f—— pissed off to lose the f—— game. And you ask me my opinion of his performance! Jesus Christ. That’s a tough question to ask me, isn’t it? ‘What is my opinion of his performance?'”
Did you tell him you were a Braves fan?
The always-gracious Mr. Lasorda’s most famous quote:
Lasorda responded: “What’s my opinion of Kingman’s performance!? What the f— do you think is my opinion of it? I think it was f—— horse s—! Put that in, I don’t f—— care. Opinion of his performance? Jesus Christ, he beat us with three f—— home runs! What the f— do you mean, ‘What is my opinion of his performance?’ How could you ask me a question like that, ‘What is my opinion of his performance?’ Jesus Christ, he hit three home runs! Jesus Christ! I’m f—— pissed off to lose the f—— game. And you ask me my opinion of his performance!”
One more, NSFW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzjWQF1oP2M
One last one, from the 1977 World Series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvFMEoKI7eE
Good stuff. Did you get the email I sent you?
Oh that’s gold!
I’ve always thought the Bevacqua one was hilarious.
Dylan Dodd will be the opener. Some interesting roster decisions, including Rowdy Tellez instead of Dom Smith. Rowdy’s one job in this series is to swing for the fences when he’s called upon to pinch hit against a righty. And it’s good to see Lane Thomas back.
It’s really Lane Thomas instead of Smith. It was thought they would drop 2 position players for pitchers in the longer series. Roster moves make sense.
Obviously the opener is required without too many other great options, but it doesn’t have quite as much advantage as it did in game three with 2 lefties in there at 2/3. Dodgers line-up is pretty evenly balanced R/L up and down.
Yeah, once it was clear Thomas is healthy they were going to activate him for the right handed bat. Still, it’s interesting to me that among the lefty PH options they chose Rowdy over Dom. I assume it’s because of the power.
I guess Kiersey Jr. and his speed aren’t as valuable with no Manfred Mann in the postseason. Too bad – I liked him.
Smoltz is already talking way too much.
I have the tv on silent and Ingram on the radio. As much as I admired Smoltz as a pitcher I can’t stand him as an announcer.
How is this umpire allowed to be in a playoff game? He is the worst I have ever seen so far in ABS-time. This is crazy bad.
If they’re just going to give Skubal the strike above the zone, we don’t stand a chance. Plate ump HAS to be BETTER
Man, plate ump is STRUGGLING. He’s had two overturned already, and three more that would’ve been overturned had they been challenged. And it’s only be two innings.
Both teams chirping. Both announcers noticing just how bad. Smoltz clearly upset how bad plate ump is.
Dodd has been terrific. Do you bring him out for a third inning?
Dodd and pray to God worked out so far
D-Dodd!
They way Skubal is throwing, we need to scratch across a run. Might be the only one we get off of him today.
And now one won’t be enough. Ooof. Should have been Holmes or AJSS anyway.
At this point you just try to spare your staff and punt. Good job by Dodd but Mederos is not who you want to trust throwing key innings in a playoff game.
You can probably go Sale-Mahle-Holmes-Sale and have a shot
Down two runs through four, and you’re punting?
Interesting.
It does look unlikely they will do anything much against Skubal. (Although you never know when you might get a bloop and a blast). But if you can get his pitch count up so that he only goes 7 you’ve got a shot at scoring against their pen. But holding them where they are is not likely either. AJSS will likely go several innings; he has a chance to shine here.
Josh, not exactly. I would not use any of our best arms unless we are tied or have a lead. That said I could not imagine a single move that says punting more than bringing in Mederos in the 4th. He had some nice outings for us, but he’s a terrible pitcher, and he’s proved it at all levels over many years. It makes no sense when you had AJSS or Holmes or even Suter
Murph!!!
Well that’s 1. Way to go Murph!
How about a walk and another blast?
TTO now – here we go.
Come on Ronnie… Got a good feeling.
I think this ump is looking forward to the Eric Gregg Memorial Buffet back at the hotel later.
EDIT – And crap!
One side was able to buy its Game 1 starter and thanks to its largesse, has a mile’s worth of margin for error in its team-building. The other was forced to duct-tape its way through the game — mostly with flotsam and jetsam — thanks to injuries. What can one realistically expect?
And there’s no two ways about it: Smith-Shawver has been bad since his return. But there were only bad options at this point.
OK, go get ’em tomorrow. This one was always likely to go to the Dodgers. Go Braves!
AJ needs to shake that off. This is his game now.
It’s a legit criticism to say that Sale could’ve been pitching this game and that WW didn’t need to use him to close out the Phillies, and a lot of people said so at the time.
Sale was never going to pitch this game on three days rest. He’s still in line to start games 2 and 5 (let’s hope!)
EDIT–I’m assuming that Sale starts tomorrow, and that Weiss never would have been used on Thursday if it kept him from starting game two of the NLDS. I might be wrong about that, and if so I will join in the criticism of Weiss for using him on Thursday. But I think the Thursday outing was the equivalent of the side session he was going to throw anyway.
I don’t think so, no. Sale pitched 4 outs on his throw day in an elimination game. Best to let Skubal beat us and hold sale for games 2 and 5. I am assuming he throws for game 2 and if not, it was a mistake to pitch him on Thursday.
The only thing Weiss did wrong here was to use meseros when he needed someone to give us 3 innings of 1 run ball. Suter and AJSS were logical. Mederos has velocity without control and that means walks and runs against a patient team.
The team that hits the most home runs almost always wins. My advice to the Braves is to hit at least three more.
There’s one. Two more, please
Recapped