Francisco Cabrera helps the Atlanta Braves win the NL pennant series (1992)

Tags

1966, 1992, Atlanta Braves, David Justice, Francisco Cabrera, NL Pennant, October 10, Pittsburgh Pirates, Sid Bream, Stan Belinda

We all remember Francisco Cabrera. A catcher for the Braves from 1989 to 1993, he batted and threw right handed. Origionally from the Dominican Republic and born on October 10, 1966.

With one swing of the bat, he became my hero.

Perhaps unfairly, he was known as a “good hit/no field” label. Hard to live a label like that down. He was used very irregularly as a catcher. In the 1992 NL pennant series last game, he came off the bench to deliver a stunning, ninth inning hit that won the game. He hit a two out single to left off of Pittsburgh’s Stan Belinda to drive in David Justice and Sid Bream. That ended the NL Championship Series. So there. All done!

What a bases loaded hit it was. This would be the second straight NL pennant. This was the first time in history to win a postseason championship for a team that went from losing to winning on the final pitch.

Cabrera was a reserve. He spent most of 1992 at Triple-A Richmond. He had only 10 major league bats in 1992. His hit brought him instant stardom. He even got a key to the city from Mayor Maynard Jackson.

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Dusty Baker as an Atlanta Brave outfielder (1968 — 1975)

Tags

1968, 1975, Atlanta Braves, Dusty Baker, Hank Aaron

Dusty Baker became a bitter rival of the Braves but contributed mightily as a player from 1968 to 1975. Dusty was born on June 15, 1949 in Riverside, California. He batted right and threw right.

Dusty kind of got lost in the Hank Aaron era. He was a regular center fielder in 1972 and 1973. He replaced Hank Aaron in right field for most of 1974 when the ‘Hammer cut back on his playing time after hitting number 715 and then again in 1975 when he was traded to Milwaukee.

Baker had a challenging time in Atlanta. In 1972, his first full season in the Majors, he hit a career-high .321. Notice I said career-high. He never repeated that again disappointing many of the fans. In 1973 he batted .288 with 99 RBIs and joined Aaron in the 20-20 club hitting over 20 home runs and stealing over 20 bases. It would take Dale Murphy to do the same again in 1982.

1974 and 1975 saw a big decline in his numbers. Contract discussions became difficult. He became a part of a six person trade the Los Angeles Dodgers. He would flourish there. Go figure!

Some of his career highlights were:

• 2× All-Star (1981, 1982) – Not in Atlanta
• World Series champion (1981) – Not in Atlanta
• NLCS MVP (1977) – Not in Atlanta
• Gold Glove Award (1981) – Not in Atlanta
• 2× Silver Slugger Award (1980, 1981) – Not in Atlanta
• 3× NL Manager of the Year (1993, 1997, 2000) – Not in Atlanta

Dusty Baker – Atlanta Braves

John Smoltz – The most beloved pitcher for the Atlanta Braves

Tags

1985, Atlanta Braves, John Smoltz

John Smoltz

John Smoltz is probably the most beloved pitcher in Atlanta history.

Consider this, from 2001-08 (injured in 2000), Smoltz started 110 games and finished 204 games.

During that time, he was 55-34 with a 3.04 ERA, 913 strikeouts and had 154 saves in 980.2 innings pitched. He also had a 1.127 ERA.

Furthermore, Smoltz is the only pitcher in baseball history to have 200 wins and 150 saves in his career.

Mighty good in anybody’s book. Not bad for a kid who was the 574th selection of the 1985 draft.

 

Atlanta Braves play in the first ever National League Division play off games (October 3, 1995)

Tags

1995, Atlanta Braves, NLDS, October 3

We are used to it now but it wasn’t that long ago there weren’t Division playoff games in MLB.

The 1995 National League Division Series (NLDS), the opening round of the 1995 National League playoffs, began on Tuesday, October 3, and ended on Saturday, October 7, with the champions of the three NL divisions—along with a “wild card” team—participating in two best-of-five series. As a result of both leagues realigning into three divisions in 1994, it marked the first time in major league history that a team could qualify for postseason play without finishing in first place in its league or division. The teams were:

• (1) Atlanta Braves (Eastern Division champion, 90–54) vs. (4) Colorado Rockies (Wild Card, 77–67): Braves win series, 3–1.
• (2) Cincinnati Reds (Central Division champion, 85–59) vs. (3) Los Angeles Dodgers(Western Division champion, 78–66): Reds win series, 3–0.

Javy Lopez – Atlanta Brave from 1992 to 2003

Tags

2003, Atlanta Braves, Javy Lopez

Javy Lopez played for the team for four years during the 2000s and was a favorite among Braves’ fans. He was one of my favorites as well since he was a catcher.

On the final out of the 1995 World Series championship season: “I remember Carlos Baerga was at the plate and I called for a fastball away from Mark (Wohlers). We were trying to stay away from the middle of the plate. When it first left his bat I was thinking he hit it hard, but then I saw (center fielder) Marquis (Grissom) pick up on it quickly and knew we had the out. I then remember running to the mound and jumping on Mark. I don’t remember much after that.’’

During that time, he had a .282 average with 95 home runs and 316 RBI. He had 486 hits, scored 225 runs, hit 81 doubles and had a .500 slugging percentage.

The 2003 season saw him bat .318 with 43 home runs and 109 RBI, earning an All-Star selection and a Silver Slugger award.

Behind the plate, he threw out 110 of 349 base stealers, which is a little over a 31 percent success rate.

When Javier “Javy” Lopez was growing up in Puerto Rico, he would practice baseball by hitting rocks off the metal roof of his house in Ponce. The loud noise, which used to drive his parents crazy, would eventually lead to Lopez putting his name in the major league record books for most home runs in a season by a catcher, when he hit 43 in his final season with the Braves in 2003.

After the 2003 season, he signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Orioles.

 

John Smoltz’s — watch him rob old friend Tom Glavine of a hit (April 22, 2007)

Tags

2007, April 22, Atlanta Braves, John Smoltz, New York Mets, Tom Glavine

John Smoltz was an amazing pitcher for the Braves. A staple in the Major Leagues for two decades, he spent 16 years pitching alongside fellow Hall of Famer Tom Glavine. They were teammates until Glavine signed with the Mets after the 2002 season.

Glavine was still with the Mets when the two squared off at Shea Stadium on April 22, 2007. It was on that day that Smoltz took the opportunity to show his old friend that he was still as athletic as ever, despite approaching his 40th birthday.

Former Brave Kenny Lofton agrees to a $1.25 million, one-year contract with the White Sox (February 1, 2002)

Tags

1997, 2002, Atlanta Braves, February 1, Kenny Lofton

Kenny Lofton played for a lot of teams. One of them was the Atlanta Braves in 1997. As an impending free agent in 1996, it was Lofton’s last season with Cleveland before being traded to near the end of spring training 1997 to the Atlanta Braves of the National League. On trading Lofton, Hart said, “We had to make this trade and based on the fact that Lofton could be a free agent at the end of this season. We went through it with Albert Belle last year, and Albert left and we had nothing in return. We were not prepared to do that again.”

• On February 1, 2002 Six-time All Star Kenny Lofton (.261, 14, 66) agrees to a $1.25 million, one-year contract with the White Sox.
• The 34 year-old centerfielder, who has played with the Indians, Braves and Astros during his 11-year major league career, had a .302 lifetime batting average.
• Here are the teams he played for:
  • Houston Astros (1991)
  • Cleveland Indians (1992–1996)
  • Atlanta Braves (1997)
  • Cleveland Indians (1998–2001)
  • Chicago White Sox (2002)
  • San Francisco Giants (2002)
  • Pittsburgh Pirates (2003)
  • Chicago Cubs (2003)
  • New York Yankees (2004)
  • Philadelphia Phillies (2005)
  • Los Angeles Dodgers (2006)
  • Texas Rangers (2007)
  • Cleveland Indians (2007)

Kenny Lofton

 

Bob Wickman traded for Max Ramirez to become a closer for the Braves (July 20, 2006)

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2006, Bob Wickman, Bobby Cox, July 24, Max Ramirez

Trying to keep their 14 straight postseason appearances streak intact, the Braves trade Class A catcher Max Ramirez to the Indians for Bob Wickman on July 20, 2006. Wickman then served as Atlanta’s closer, recording his first save on July 24.

Atlanta, winning 12 of 16 to get back into the wild-card race, is hoping the veteran 37 year-old closer can help solve the team’s late inning woes, which includes the bullpen blowing half of that season’s 40 save opportunities.

On September 20, 2006, Wickman signed a one-year $6.5 million contract extension to stay with the Atlanta Braves for the 2007 season.

On August 24, 2007, after giving up a walk-off two run home run to the Reds’ Adam Dunn in extra innings, Wickman complained to manager Bobby Cox about pitching in non-save situations. Consequently, he was released. Bobby just didn’t put up with that kind of stuff. You have to love it.

On September 7, 2007, Wickman signed a contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks, a move that signaled that he had backed off his disdain for non-save situations, given that the team had an established closer in José Valverde.

Bob Wickman – 2006 Atlanta Braves

Freddie Freeman homer sets Atlanta Braves record for times reaching base (April 19, 2017)

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2017, April 19, Atlanta Braves, Freddie Freeman, Jeff Burroughs

Freddie Freeman had a first-inning walk and third-inning home run on April 19, 2017, against the Nationals to set an Atlanta franchise record by reaching base in 12 consecutive plate appearances, a streak that was snapped when he grounded out in the sixth inning.

Freeman broke the record previously held by Jeff Burroughs in 1978.

Now hear this: The Braves’ rebuild is progressing nicely. Really? I don’t think so.

Tags

2017, Atlanta Braves, Bartolo Colon, Julio Teheran, Rebuilding Season

As a fan, I want the Braves to win. I want them to win this year. It isn’t going to happen. That is more than frustrating. It doesn’t have to be this way.

I disagree with Mr. Bradley. It isn’t proceeding nicely. It is a bust. Corporate ownership doesn’t get it. There is a huge chasm between building (what they should have done) and rebuilding (gutting the core of the team).

“There are times in every rebuild when progress seems so incremental as to be measured in angstrom units. For the Braves, this is such a time. The glow of being a .500 team in mid-July has yielded to reality.

• The Bartolo Colon experiment fizzled.
• Sean Rodriguez played 15 games here.
• Julio Teheran has been terrible.
• Swanson, star of Cobb County billboards, was sent to Gwinnett.
• Johan Camargo, who supplanted Swanson at shortstop, tripped over the foul line.

And yet …

Source: Now hear this: The Braves’ rebuild is progressing nicely. Really | Mark Bradley blog

The new 2012 playoff change does not benefit the Atlanta Braves (March 2, 1012)

Tags

2011, 2012, Atlanta Braves, March 2, November 22, Playoff

Things change in baseball. Sometimes slowly but they change.

On November 22, 2011, a new contract between Major League Baseball and its players union was ratified, and as a result, an expanded playoff format adding two clubs will be adopted no later than 2013 according to the new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The new format was finalized for the 2012 season on March 2, 2012, and will use the 2–3 game schedule format for the Division Series for the 2012 season only. A new one-game, wild-card round will be added in each league between the teams with the best records who are not division winners.

The new postseason system, which would have allowed the Red Sox and the Braves to avoid their historic collapses. Forced into a one game playoff with Cardinals, the Braves lost 6-3.

The change increases the reward of a winning a division title, but opened the door of the possibility of a third-place team winning the World Series.

Atlanta Braves Logo

Atlanta Braves Hank Aaron Ties Babe Ruth (April 4, 1974)

Tags

1974, April 4, Atlanta Braves, Hank Aaron

It was time. Babe Ruth, the all time home run leader, a player whose greatness and larger than life personality had been the stuff of legends for generations, was about to be caught. Heading into the 1974 season, Atlanta Braves outfielder Hank Aaron was only one home run behind Ruth’s hallowed 714, and only an injury or a miracle would keep that record intact.

As it turned out, neither would happen. In fact, Aaron made sure to make quick work of that chase for 714, doing so on Opening Day (April 4, 1974) against the Cincinnati Reds. With one out in the first, and runners on first and second, Aaron sent the Jack Billingham offering over the wall in left center, tying Ruth atop the all time list.

And so … one more to go to break the record.

Source: Atlanta Braves Hank Aaron Ties Babe Ruth

Braves lose NLDS 5-1 to Chicago Cubs (October 4, 2003)

Tags

2003, Chicago Cubs, NLDS, October 4, Turner Field

October 4, 2003 wasn’t a great day for the Atlanta Braves. It couldn’t have been worse, as a matter of fact.

They were humiliated by the Cubs who win their first postseason series victory since 1908 when the franchise won the World Series.

In front of a standing-room crowd of 54,357 at Turner Field, Chicago beat the Braves in the deciding Game 5 of the NLDS, 5-1.

Season over! Yikes!

A few Game notes:

• For the eighth time in franchise history, the Braves played
  a decisive postseason game. They were 4-3 in previous Game 7s or
  Game 5s.
• Sheffield had another miserable postseason. He went
  2-for-14 against the Cubs after going 1-of-16 in a five-game loss
  to San Francisco last year.
• Former President Jimmy Carter, an
  avid Braves fan, sat in the box next to the Atlanta dugout.
• Tiger Woods, who has played golf with Smoltz, attended the game after
  winning the American Express Championship in suburban Atlanta.

Braves earn first win of the season with rally vs. Marlins (April 16, 2016)

Tags

2016, Adonis Garcia, April 16, Atlanta Braves, Florida Marlins

On the ropes early, and in danger of extending their season-opening losing streak even further, the Braves showed resolve and rallied behind three RBIs from Adonis Garcia, including a tiebreaking two-run single in the eighth inning, to defeat the Marlins, 6-3, on April 16, 2016 at Marlins Park as Major League Baseball celebrated Jackie Robinson Day.

Garcia, who committed two errors in the third inning, became the Braves’ offensive hero late with his key hits, which enabled Atlanta to avoid dropping to 0-10 for the first time since 1988.

The Marlins, meanwhile, let a three-run lead slip away. They had the chance to break the game open early but bounced into three double plays, and fell to 12-26 all-time against Atlanta at Marlins Park.

Andruw Jones inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame (August 19, 2016)

Tags

1996, 2016, All Star, Andruw Jones, August 19, Gold Glove Award

Andruw Jones

Andruw Jones played the first eight years from 1996 to 2007 with Atlanta and had some great power numbers. More than anything, I loved seeing him glide through Center Field and miraculously catch an impossible hit. He brought the grace of Willie Mays to the field for a brief period of time.

He hit .264 with 288 home runs and 860 RBI. He had 1,247 hits, 237 doubles and scored 788 runs.

He made five All-Star teams and won Gold Gloves all eight years he was with the team in the decade.

Consider these accomplishments

• 5× All-Star (2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006)
• 10× Gold Glove Award (1998–2007)
• Silver Slugger Award (2005)
• NL Hank Aaron Award (2005)
• MLB home run leader (2005)
• NL RBI leader (2005)

The Braves inducted him into the Braves Hall of Fame on August 19, 2016. It was the right thing to do.

The “Crime Dog” pinch hits a homer after a “fire delay” (July 19, 1993)

Tags

1993, Atlanta Braves, Delay, Fred McGrive, July 19

Delays are a part of the game. They happen all the time. But for a fire? Now that is a story.

The game against the Cardinals on July 19, 1993 is delayed for an hour after a fire breaks out in the skybox/press box area of Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.

Recently acquired Fred McGriff (the Crime Dog) pinch-hits a homer, enabling the Braves to rally from a 5-0 deficit to win 7-5 and appears to ignite the beginning of the team’s historic comeback from a 9 1/2 games deficit to win the National League West Division.

Thanks to the delay and thanks to the “Crime Dog”.

Fred McGriff

Hank Aaron’s last at bat with the Atlanta Braves is a home run (October 2, 1974)

Tags

1974, Hank Aaron, Milwaukee Brewers, October 2

October 2, 1974 was a sad day for Atlanta Braves fans. Our only hope, for so many years, after the move from Milwaukee, was Hammerin Hank.

Henry Aaron, in his final at bat for the Braves after spending 21 seasons with the team, homers off right-hander Rawly Eastwick in the 13-0 rout of Cincinnati at Atlanta Stadium. The Hammer’s last National League plate appearance yields his 3600th career hit, which is the Brewer-bound outfielder’s 736 round-tripper career.

He would head back to Milwaukee to finish out his last 2 years. Fitting since that is where he started. Wished he would have stayed in Atlanta.

Julio Franco hits a grand slam at age 45 (June 4, 2004)

Tags

2004, 4000 Hit Club, Grand Slam, Julio Franco, June 4

Julio Franco – Atlanta Braves

At Turner Field on June 4, 2004, Julio Franco became the oldest player in baseball history to hit a grand slam. The 45 year-old Dominican first baseman’s first inning base-loaded home run proves to be the difference as the Braves beat the Phillies, 8-4.

Julio was a work horse. He continued to play in the majors until 2007 but played on minor and international teams until 2015.

Look at this team history:

• Philadelphia Phillies (1982)
• Cleveland Indians (1983–1988)
• Texas Rangers (1989–1993)
• Chicago White Sox (1994)
• Chiba Lotte Marines (1995)
• Cleveland Indians (1996–1997)
• Milwaukee Brewers (1997)
• Chiba Lotte Marines (1998)
• Tampa Bay Devil Rays (1999)
• Samsung Lions (2000)
• Atlanta Braves (2001–2005)
• New York Mets (2006–2007)
• Atlanta Braves (2007)

4,000 Professional Hit Club: Now this is amazing, Franco compiled over 4,200 hits in his 26-year professional career, making him one of only seven known players with at least 4,000 professional hits (the others being Pete Rose, Ty Cobb, Hank Aaron, Jigger Statz, Stan Musial, Derek Jeter, and Ichiro Suzuki.

Source: Wikipedia

Looking back at the 1966 first opening day for Atlanta Braves (April 12, 1966)

Tags

1966, April 12, Atlanta Braves, Hank Aaron, Joe Torre, Tony Cloninger

What was the first game in Atlanta like? April 12, 1966 was a historic day for the Braves.

Here is the lineup for that day. You’ll see some great names and a few obscure ones.

Leading off and playing center field — No. 29, Felipe Alou. Batting second, third baseman — No. 41, Eddie Mathews. In the three hole, right fielder — No. 44, Hank Aaron. Batting cleanup and playing left field — No. 43, Rico Carty. Batting fifth and behind the plate — No. 15 catcher, Joe Torre. At shortstop and batting sixth — No. 19, Denis Menke. Batting seventh, first baseman — No. 9, Lee Thomas. At second base and batting eighth — No. 2, Frank Bolling. And on the hill, right-hander — No. 40, Tony Cloninger.

A crowd of 50,671, slightly below capacity of 52,007, was on hand to witness the game, which the Pirates won 3-2 in 13 innings. Home runs accounted for all the scoring. Torre was responsible for both Atlanta runs, hitting solo shots in the fifth (the first official home run in the stadium) and then in the 13th. Joe Pagliaroni had a solo homer for Pittsburgh in the eighth, and Willie Stargell hit a two-run shot in the top of the 13th, which proved to be the difference.

And some trivia about our pitcher. In what would be unheard of in today’s game, Tony Cloninger went the full 13 innings and was charged with the loss. He struck out 12 and walked just three. Cloninger, who won 24 games in 1965 and finished with a 14-11 record in 1966, put his name in the baseball record book later that season by hitting two grand slams against the San Francisco, Giants on July 3.

He is the only pitcher in major league baseball history to accomplish that feat.

The Braves maul the Marlins 20-3 to clinch the NL East title (October 5, 2001)

Tags

2001, Atlanta Braves, NL East, October 5

It was an evening game at Turner Field. 29,290 were in attendance when the Braves maul the Marlins on October 5, 2001, 20-3 to clinch the National League East title.

They would become the first team in professional sports to win 10 consecutive division titles. The Boston Celtics (1957-65) and Los Angeles Lakers (1982-90) had both won nine in a row.

The Braves would go on to win 14 in a row. Perhaps a record that will never be broken.

Atlanta Braves Table

Batting	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	PA	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
Marcus Giles 2B	3	3	1	4	3	0	6	.266	.342	.436	.778
Julio Franco 1B	5	3	3	2	1	1	6	.295	.374	.443	.817
Chipper Jones 3B	5	3	2	5	1	0	6	.330	.427	.605	1.032
Brian Jordan RF	5	2	2	1	0	2	5	.296	.335	.498	.833
B.J. Surhoff LF	2	1	1	1	2	1	5	.272	.323	.408	.730
Andruw Jones CF	2	2	0	1	2	1	5	.251	.312	.461	.773
Rey Sanchez SS	5	2	2	3	0	0	5	.282	.301	.338	.639
Paul Bako C	3	3	2	1	2	0	5	.212	.312	.343	.655
Kevin Millwood P	2	1	0	1	1	1	3	.093	.114	.093	.207
Ken Caminiti PH	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	.229	.314	.411	.725
Kerry Ligtenberg P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Dave Martinez PH	1	0	1	1	0	0	1	.285	.346	.379	.725
Steve Reed P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Team Totals	34	20	14	20	12	7	48	.412	.542	.706	1.248

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 8/8/2017.

Brian McCann moves to the Yankees (November 23, 2013)

Tags

2013, Brian McCann, Free Agent, November 23

Brian McCann is favorite among Braves fans, and has been since he came to town in 2005. He is from Athens, GA so he gets bonus points in my book.

In that time, he hit .286 with 136 home runs and 537 RBI. He has 878 hits, 200 doubles and scored 377 runs.

He’s also been named to six All-Star Games and won five Silver Sluggers.

Behind the dish, he’s thrown out 156 of 519 runners, which is a 30 percent caught-stealing rate.

Things got interesting for McCann when he became a free agent after the 2013 season. On November 23, 2013, McCann agreed to a five-year, $85 million contract with the New York Yankees, with a vesting option for a sixth year.

He is now with the Houston Astros. On April 14, 2017, McCann became the 14th catcher to record over 10,000 putouts at the position.

 

Braves rewind: Whatever happened to…Biff Pocoroba?

Tags

All Star, Atlanta Braves, Biff Pocoroba

Let’s take a look at Braves from years past. How about Biff Pocoroba? Don’t laugh, he was an All-Star for the Braves in 1978.

• When did Biff play? “Biff was a catcher in the ’70s and ’80s and was a career Brave, playing all 596 games while wearing a tomahawk. He was a .257 hitter, but he once threw out 11 straight potential base-stealers. 1977 was his best year: he played in 113 games; he hit .290, and hit a walk-off grand slam. However, his 1978 year was most puzzling. That year, he finished the season hitting just .242 but was selected as an All-Star. Why? Teammate Phil Niekro was on that All-Star squad, and apparently no catchers wanted to try to catch Niekro’s knuckler; none except Biff. To no one’s surprise, Biff had 53 passed balls in his career; most of them before 1980.”
• How did his career end? “Following rotator cuff surgery in 1979, Biff was limited primarily to pinch-hitting duties for the remainder of his career, although Bobby Cox did try him out at third base.”
• “Biff played his final game April 20, 1984. In retirement, he opened Sausage World, a specialty meat establishment in Lilburn, Georgia.”

Source: Braves rewind: Whatever happened to…Biff Pocoroba? – Talking Chop

After Braves, Andrelton Simmons moved on to the Angels (November 12, 2015)

Tags

2015, Andrelton Simmons, Los Angeles Angels, November 12

It’s like breaking up with your first girlfriend. It’s a little heartbreaking at first. You plan like it’s gonna be forever, and after it’s over, you wish them the best. I’m with my new girlfriend now, and I’m focused on this team and helping them win now.

On November 12, 2015, Simmons, along with catcher Jose Briceno, was traded to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for Erick Aybar, Sean Newcomb and Chris Ellis.

Dickey, Markakis help Braves overcome Stanton, Marlins 5-3 (August 4, 2017)

Tags

2017, Atlanta Braves, August 4, R. A. Dickey

R. A. Dickey – Atlanta Braves 2017

R.A. Dickey is glad he doesn’t have to face Giancarlo Stanton too often. But he did and won. Now that is some good news for the Braves who continue to struggle this year. In third place for the NL East, 14.5 games behind Washington.

Source: Dickey, Markakis help Braves overcome Stanton, Marlins 5-3

• What does this mean for Dickey? “Dickey won for the first time in seven starts, Nick Markakis hit a three-run homer and the Atlanta Braves overcame Stanton’s two home runs to beat the Miami Marlins 5-3 on Friday night.”
• And Dickey says … “I had done a pretty good job of keeping him in the yard for about six years, so he was probably due,” Dickey said. “He’s good. He’s a specimen. I thought I had a pretty good knuckleball otherwise.”
• How did Stanton do? “Stanton hit his 34th and 35th homers, passing Yankees slugger Aaron Judge for most in the majors, to give the Marlins a 3-1 lead in the sixth. Markakis took Adam Conley (4-4) deep in the bottom of the inning to make it 4-3.”
• Dickey holds his own: “Dickey (7-7) allowed three hits, three runs, one walk and struck out three in six innings. The 42-year-old knuckleballer has pitched well lately, going 3-2 with a 2.22 ERA in nine starts since losing 10-5 at Washington on June 13.”
• More on Stanton: “Stanton crushed his first homer into the tunnel past the wall in center field to make it 1-all in the fourth . Major League Baseball’s Statcast said it would have gone a distance of 477 feet unimpeded, his longest of the season, and an exit velocity of 115.5 mph off the bat. He followed with a hard two-run shot off Dickey in the sixth, this one to left field, that put Miami up 3-1 .”

 

Rick Ankiel throws 5 wild pitches in one inning (October 3, 2000)

Tags

2000, Atlanta Braves, October 3, Rick Ankiel, Tony LaRussa

Against the Braves on October 3, 2000, Cardinal rookie starter Rick Ankiel sets a modern day major league record by uncorking five wild pitches in the third inning of Game 1 of NLDS against the Atlanta Braves.

He joins Buffalo’s Bert Cunningham, who accomplished the same feat in the first inning in an 1890 Players League contest.

LaRussa has stated that putting Ankiel into Game One of the 2000 NLDS was “a decision that perhaps haunts him more than any he has ever made.”

Unfortunately for the Braves, the Cardinals won the game.

Braves win their 15th consecutive game (May 2, 2000)

Tags

2000, Atlanta Braves, May 2

Atlanta Braves

En route to the team’s ninth division title in ten years, on May 2, 2000, the Braves win their fifteenth consecutive game when they beat L.A. at Chavez Ravine, 5-3.

The winning streak, which began on April 16, ties an Atlanta record.

The 2000 Atlanta Braves season marked the franchise’s 35th season in Atlanta. The Braves won their ninth consecutive division title, however, the 2000 season would mark the first time since 1990 that the Braves did not appear in the National League Championship Series.

One of the highlights of the season was that the All-Star Game was held at Turner Field in Atlanta.

 

That Time Satchel Paige Was an Atlanta Braves Pitching Coach (1969)

Tags

1968, 1969, Atlanta Braves, Satchel Paige

The great Satchel Paige. The ageless stalworth of the Negro Leagues. We’re all familiar with Satchel Paige and his greatness, and many of us can even quote a classic Satchel quote or two. But, what you might not have known, is that Satchel Paige was an Atlanta Braves pitching coach once. Well, sort of.

In 1968, Satchel Paige was just 158 days shy of the five years’ playing time needed to qualify for Major League pension. Satchel reached out to 29 teams to give him just one more chance and 29 teams turned the ageless wonder down.

It’s also important to note that Satchel was shy of the major league pension because of the bogus color barrier. He didn’t get called up to the majors, from the Negro Leagues where he played 17 years, until 1949. And in 1949, the man was already 42 years old.

So, when 1968 came around and 62 year old Satchel Paige realizes that he’s just shy of a nice major league pension, he just figured he’d make some calls and pick up a baseball again.

But, when every other team was quick to turn down Satchel Paige, Atlanta Braves president Bill Bartholomay saw an opportunity. In 1968, the Braves had been in Atlanta for just three years, and Bartholomay knew that he could kill two birds with one stone. Bill could do the right thing for the legendary Satchel Paige, and he could sell a few tickets along the way in the newest baseball city.

In order to make Satchel Paige eligible to receive his pension, Bartholomay signed Paige to a contract running through the 1969 season as the Atlanta Braves pitching coach. Satchel would actually suit up and pitch a couple of innings during two exhibition games early in the spring 1969, but he’d spend the rest of the season “coaching” from his living room in Kansas City, Missouri.

After reaching his 158 required days, Paige left the Atlanta Braves organization and less than three years later, began drawing that Major League pension. He received $250 a month.

John Rocker – An amazing closer for the Atlanta Braves but all ruined by an intolerance for others and the rules

Tags

1974, 1993, 1998, 2001, Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, John Rocker, June 23, Macon GA, October 17, Steroid

John Rocker – Atlanta Brave

Man, John Rocker could pitch and what a closer he was. John Loy Rocker (born October 17, 1974) is a relief pitcher who played for the Atlanta Braves, the Cleveland Indians, the Texas Rangers, and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays as well as the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He threw left-handed and batted right-handed. He is a native of Macon, Georgia and lives in Atlanta.

In high school, he was a pitcher for First Presbyterian Day School in Macon, Georgia.He threw three no-hitters during his high-school career. He was soon drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 18th round (516th overall) of the 1993 Major League Baseball Draft.

In 1998, he was promoted to the major league club. In Rocker’s first season in the Major Leagues, he was 1–3 with a 2.13 ERA in 38 innings pitched. The following year, an injury put Atlanta closer Kerry Ligtenberg on the DL, moving Rocker into the role of closer, where he was 4–5 with 38 saves and a 2.49 ERA. In 2000, he was 1–2 with 24 saves, posting a 2.89 ERA, but in June 2000, Rocker was demoted for threatening a reporter.

John on whether he would ever play for the New York Yankees or the New York Mets.

I’d retire first. It’s the most hectic, nerve-racking city. Imagine having to take the 7 Train to the ballpark looking like you’re riding through Beirut next to some kid with purple hair, next to some queer with AIDS, right next to some dude who just got out of jail for the fourth time, right next to some 20-year-old mom with four kids. It’s depressing… The biggest thing I don’t like about New York are the foreigners. You can walk an entire block in Times Square and not hear anybody speaking English. Asians and Koreans and Vietnamese and Indians and Russians and Spanish people and everything up there. How the hell did they get in this country?

Braves fans were initially willing to support him; however, as Rocker received intense taunting from opposing teams’ fans, his pitching performance declined. On June 23, 2001, Rocker, along with minor-league infielder Troy Cameron (Atlanta’s first-round draft pick in 1997), was traded to the Cleveland Indians for right-handed relievers Steve Karsay and Steve Reed, along with cash. 

I abhor the “steroid era” in baseball. In March 2007, Rocker was implicated in a steroid ring that included Applied Pharmacy of Mobile, Alabama. In December 2011, he admitted to using steroids, saying “Yeah, of course I was [using steroids]. I mean who wasn’t? Let’s be honest here, who wasn’t?”

So long to the Braves and so long to what little respect I had left for him. An amazing closer but all ruined by an intolerance for others and the rules.

John Rocker

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	IP	G	GS	R	RA9
1998	23	ATL	NL	38.0	47	0	10	2.37
1999	24	ATL	NL	72.1	74	0	24	2.99
2000	25	ATL	NL	53.0	59	0	25	4.25
2001	26	ATL	NL	32.0	30	0	13	3.66
2001	26	CLE	AL	34.2	38	0	23	5.97
2002	27	TEX	AL	24.1	30	0	19	7.03
2003	28	TBD	AL	1.0	2	0	1	9.00
6 Seasons				255.1	280	0	115	4.05
ATL (4 yrs)				195.1	210	0	72	3.32
TBD (1 yr)				1.0	2	0	1	9.00
TEX (1 yr)				24.1	30	0	19	7.03
CLE (1 yr)				34.2	38	0	23	5.97

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 3/10/2017.

Hank Aaron ties Babe Ruth in Cincinnati, forced to do so by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn (April 4, 1974)

Tags

1974, April 4, Babe Ruth, Cincinnati Reds, Hank Aaron

On April 4, 1974, in front a crowd of 52,000 at Riverfront Stadium on Opening Day in Cincinnati, Hank Aaron ties Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record of 714 by hitting a first-inning two-run homer off Jack Billingham.

The Atlanta front office had considered keeping ‘Hammerin’ Hank’ on the bench during road games so the slugger could try to equal the mark in front of the hometown fans, but commissioner Bowie Kuhn ordered the Braves to put the outfielder into the lineup for at least two of the three games against the Reds.

And so they did. And Hank tied the record in Cincinnati.

But, he saved the best for Atlanta and broke the record there. 

Braves All-Stars (July 11, 2017)

Tags

2015, 2017, All Star, Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, December 9, Ender Inciarte, July 11

God bless Ender Inciarte for getting elected to the All Stars game in Miami on July 11, 2017. It is well deserved. On December 9, 2015, the Diamondbacks traded Inciarte, Dansby Swanson, and Aaron Blair to the Braves for Shelby Miller, and Gabe Speier. Inciarte started for the Braves as their center fielder and leadoff hitter on Opening Day

We seem to be entering a drought here. Only 1 player going to the All-Stars each of the last 3 years. If you look back over the last 20 years, you will see a different story. Sending only 1 would have been embarrassing. The culture has certainly changed in Atlanta.

At least we have a new stadium!

The lasting impact of the Expos trade for Bartolo Colon (June 27, 2002)

Tags

2002, Atlanta Braves, Bartolo Colon, Cleveland Indians, June 27, New York Mets

On June 27, 2002, Colon was traded from the Cleveland Indians to the Montreal Expos, who fancied themselves contenders for the National League wild card and NL East races despite deficits of 5 and 6.5 games respectively at the end of the day.

Bartolo has bounced around a lot. Of course, the Braves just released him. Here is the list (courtesy of Wikipedia):

• Cleveland Indians (1997–2002)
• Montreal Expos (2002)
• Chicago White Sox (2003)
• Anaheim Angels / Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2004–2007)
• Boston Red Sox (2008)
• Chicago White Sox (2009)
• New York Yankees (2011)
• Oakland Athletics (2012–2013)
• New York Mets (2014–2016)
• Atlanta Braves (2017)

Source: On this date: The lasting impact of the Expos trade for Bartolo Colon

Freddie Freeman returns earlier than expected; starts at third base (July 4, 2017)

Tags

2017, Freddie Freeman, July 4, May 17

You have to love it. Freddie Freeman returned earlier than expected from a broken left wrist as he started at third base July 4, 2017 in a 16-4 loss to the Houston Astros. It was a nasty loss but Freddie did relatively well at third.

Freeman, who was reinstated from the disabled list after meeting early in the day with a team physician, has played his entire career at first base. He singled in his first at-bat and easily handled his first chance at the hot corner, fielding a grounder and throwing sharply to first.

Who is the Freeze and how did he became an Atlanta Braves Sensation

Tags

2017, Atlanta Braves, Groundskeeper, Nigel Talton, The Freeze

Who is The Freeze and how did he become so popular?

Talton is a track athlete who has his eyes set on the 2018 World Indoor Championships in England. He is working 2 jobs right now and works all night. Doesn’t seem to slow him down though.

“The Freeze, whose real name is Nigel Talton, is a grounds-crew member for the Braves, but between innings he becomes a superhero. Fans challenge him in a race from foul pole to foul pole, and the Freeze gives his opponents a sizable head start — often five or more seconds — before turning on the jets.”

Source: How the Freeze Became an Atlanta Braves Sensation – The Ringer

“Chicks Dig the Long Ball”, a Nike Commercial, airs starring Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux (May 2, 1999)

Tags

1999, Atlanta Braves, Greg Maddux, Mark McGwire, May 2, Tom Glavine

Now this is classic. On May 2, 1999, Nike’s ‘Chicks Dig the Long Ball’ commercial, starring Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux, airs for the first time.

The television ad depicts the Braves hurlers, both who have won multiple Cy Young Awards, as pitchers-who-want-to-become-worshipped-home-run- heroes after becoming frustrated over the attention being shown to Cardinal slugger Mark McGwire by Heather Locklear and a friend.

hi

Rafael Furcal — 2000 Rookie of the Year

Tags

2005, All Star, April 4, Atlanta Braves, December 7, Rafael Furcal, Rookie of the Year

Some fans may not be as happy with Rafael Furcal after there was what seemed like a verbal deal in place to bring him back to Atlanta in 2008. But, Furcal backtracked and re-signed with the Dodgers. I know it saddened me to no extent.

Outside of that, Furcal was one of the better Braves between 2000-05.

An injury to Braves shortstop Walt Weiss prior to the 2000 season led to Furcal improbably making the jump from “A” ball to the Major League roster. He made his Major League debut on April 4, 2000 against the Colorado Rockies, getting 2 hits in 4 at-bats. His first hit was against Rockies pitcher Rolando Arrojo.

Furcal went on to hit .295 with 40 stolen bases for the Braves and won the National League Rookie of the Year Award that year.

During 2000 to 2005, he hit .284 with 57 home runs and 292 RBI. He also had 924 hits, 554 runs scored, stole 189 bases, had a .348 on-base percentage, hustled for 38 triples and knocked 160 doubles.

Furcal won the 2000 Rookie of the Year and was named a 2003 All-Star.

On December 7, 2005, Furcal signed a free agent contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers for three years and $39 million. In September 2006 Furcal was selected as the inaugural winner of the Roy Campanella Award, given to the Dodgers player who best exemplifies the spirit and leadership of the late Hall of Fame catcher. The award was voted on by only his teammates.

Source: Atlanta Braves History: Greatest Players of the 2000s | Bleacher Report

Atlanta Braves played in first-ever ‘Fort Bragg Game’ at new ballpark to celebrate military Fourth of July Weekend

Tags

2016, Atlanta Braves, Ft. Bragg, July 3, Miami Marlins

This was quite a moment in history for the the Atlanta Braves. They faced the Miami Marlins in a regular season game at a newly constructed ballpark July 3, 2016 at Fort Bragg, N.C., to celebrate America’s servicemen and servicewomen.

It took a year’s worth of planning and a frantic construction schedule to make the Atlanta Braves-Miami Marlins contest a reality. The 5-2 Marlins victory was played in a temporary ballpark constructed at the nation’s largest military base here.

Source: Atlanta Braves to play in first-ever ‘Fort Bragg Game’ at new ballpark to celebrate military Fourth of July Weekend – Atlanta Business Chronicle

Chipper Jones – Number 1 Greatest Braves player of the 2000’s

Tags

All Star, Chipper Jones, Third Base

Chipper Jones in the Dugout

I really appreciate Chipper Jones. I agree wholeheartedly that he is the best of the 2000’s.

No doubt about it.

Perhaps the most beloved Braves player of all time, depending on who you ask, Chipper Jones is the epitome of a team player and someone just about every Braves fan is going to miss once he retires after this season.

During the decade, Jones has hit .306 with 301 home runs and 1,037 RBI. He also has 1,744 hits, 360 doubles, 1,019 runs scored and a .406 on-base percentage.

He’s been named to four All-Star teams.

In 2002, he even gave up third base, moving to left field so the Braves could bring in Vinny Castilla to play third base.

After that experiment was over a few years later, Jones moved back to third base.

He’s restructured his contract countless times to help sign guys like Hudson, and has been a leader in the clubhouse for as long as I can remember.

Chipper Jones is everything Braves fans could ask for and is someone we’ll truly miss.

Source: Atlanta Braves History: Greatest Players of the 2000s | Bleacher Report

Barry Bonds ties Eddie Mathews by hitting a pair of homers the first two games of the season (April 3, 2002)

Tags

1958, 2002, April 3, Barry Bonds, Eddie Mathews

Barry Bonds becomes the second player in baseball history to begin a season (April 3, 2002) with consecutive two-homer games.

Eddie Mathews also hit a pair of homers in each of the Braves’ first two games against the Pirates to start the 1958 season.

Mathews is regarded as one of the best third basemen ever to play the game. He was an All-Star for 9 seasons. He won the National League (NL) home run title in 1953 and 1959 and was the NL Most Valuable Player runner-up both of those seasons.

He hit 512 home runs during his major league career. Mathews coached for the Atlanta Braves in 1971, and he was the team’s manager from 1972 to 1974. Later, he was a scout and coach for the Texas Rangers, Milwaukee Brewers, and Oakland Athletics

 

Mike Hampton’s injury prone second time with the Atlanta Braves (2007 – 2008)

Tags

2007, 2008, April 2, April 3, Atlanta Braves, December 3, July 26, March 7, Mike Hampton

Mike Hampton

On April 2, 2007, right-hander Mike Hampton, who signed the richest contract ever given to a pitcher, makes his Rockies debut, getting the victory when the team beat the Cardinals, 8-0. The $123.8 million man will get off to a quick 9-2 start for Colorado, but will finish his stay in the mountains 12-27 over the next one and half seasons before being dealt to the Braves for the second time.

The Braves were hoping for Hampton to be ready to rejoin the rotation in time for the start of the 2007 season. The rehab was on schedule until Hampton tore his oblique muscle on March 7, 2007, which was to sideline him until at least May. Soon after, the Braves signed Mark Redman to be a left-handed starting pitcher for them in case Hampton was not able to return to action soon. After Hampton threw a bullpen session on April 8, the Braves shut Hampton down due to recurring elbow pain and said that he would see Dr. David Altchek, who had performed his Tommy John surgery in 2005. The next day, it was announced after having another left elbow procedure, that Hampton would miss the entire 2007 season.

Hampton reported to “Camp Roger” on time in late January 2008. He threw off the mound for Bobby Cox and Roger McDowell, both of whom were impressed with Hampton’s steady progress. Hampton arrived a day before pitchers and catchers were due to report at Lake Buena Vista. He ran sprints and played catch with teammates, and continued to pitch off the mound, and threw to live batters: Mark Kotsay, Tim Hudson, and Corky Miller.

On April 3, 2008, Hampton was scheduled to make his long-anticipated return to the Braves rotation in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. While warming up, however, Hampton strained his left pectoral muscle, and was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

On July 26, 2008, Hampton made his first major league start since August 2005 against the Philadelphia Phillies. However, he was soon injured again, and finished the season with only 13 appearances. His final 2008 stats included a 3-4 record and a 4.85 ERA.

On December 3, 2008, Hampton signed a 1-year contract worth $2 million with the Houston Astros.

All I could say at the time was “Good riddance”.

 

Hank, Rico and Orlando (April 2, 1972) plus a side note on the designated hitter

Tags

1972, April 2, Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Charlie Finley, Hank Aaron, Oakland Athletics, Orlando Cepeda, Rico Carty

Orlando Cepea

On April 2, 1972 Hank Aaron, Rico Carty, and Orlando Cepeda all start in an exhibition game. It is the first time the trio of sluggers, sidelined with a variety of injuries over the past two seasons, have appeared together in the Braves lineup since 1970.

As a side note, in July, Cepeda was traded to the Oakland Athletics for Denny McLain. After playing for a week, he was hospitalized and underwent a second surgery on his injured knee. Cepeda remained in Oakland three months before returning to Puerto Rico.

Upon arriving he received a telegram from Charlie Finley, the Athletics’ owner, telling him that if he didn’t respond within three days he would be released from his contract. Cepeda decided not to call, intending to retire from baseball. In 1973, the American League established the designated hitter role, hoping to improve attendance. The Boston Red Sox contacted him, telling him that his role with the team only required batting. Cepeda became the first player to sign a contract to exclusively play as a designated hitter.

His first hit with the team was a walk-off home run to beat the New York Yankees. Cepeda had an average of .289 with 20 home runs and 86 RBIs in 550 at bats. He was also named Designated Hitter of the Year. Cepeda’s twentieth home run established a major league record, making him the first player to hit twenty or more home runs with four different teams. He went to Puerto Rico and prepared to play in the 1974 season, but the team decided to release him and Luis Aparicio during spring training. After briefly playing in Mexico, he was offered a contract by the Kansas City Royals. In his last season, Cepeda had 107 at bats, batting .215 with one home run.

The pitcher who hit two grand slams in one game (July 3, 1966)

Tags

1940, 1966, Atlanta Braves, August 13, Bobby Bragan, July 3, Tony Cloniger

Tony Cloninger

Sunday, July 3, 1966…this was the day we should all remember as one of the best performances an Atlanta Braves pitcher has ever had.  The Braves took on the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park in an afternoon ball game in front of 27,000 fans.  When the fans

The Braves took on the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park in an afternoon ball game in front of 27,000 fans.  When the fans arrived to the facility, they had no idea what they were about to witness.

The Braves and manager Bobby Bragan sent a young 25-year-old right hander named Tony Cloninger to the mound.  He came into the game with an 8-7 record and a 4.35 ERA and had a .200 batting average.  On this night, he would improve all of those categories.

Cloninger was born on August 13, 1940, in North Carolina and was signed by the Milwaukee Braves as an amateur free agent in 1958.  The righty pitched with the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves from 1961-1968, Cincinnati Reds from 1968-1971 and the St. Louis Cardinals in 1972.

It is the first inning. Tony comes to the plate with bases loaded. Tony does the unthinkable and hits a grand slam. Call it a day and go home.

But … Tony is there to pitch and pitch he does.

He comes up again in the fourth. And boom, another grand slam. Cloninger became the first player in the National League, and the only pitcher to date, to hit two grand slams in the same game!!

As the game ended, Cloninger finished his complete game with five strikeouts and picked up his ninth win of the season.  He was the player of the game, going 3-5 with nine RBI’s and a complete-game win on the mound.  The Braves won this match up against the Giants 17-3.

Crazy stat…just five starts prior, Cloninger went 3-5 at the plate with hit two homers and five RBIs.  He also pitched a complete game on this night and only gave up five hits and one run.

One Additional Crazy stat…on Cloninger’s first start of the 1966 season, he threw a complete game 13 innings and gave up 10 hits, three runs, three walks and had 12 strikeouts.  Talk about saving your bullpen.

Source: Atlanta Braves flashback Friday: The pitcher who hit two grand slams in one game

Hammerin’ Hank is born to break the Bambino’s record (February 5, 1934)

Tags

1934, Babe Ruth, February 5, Hank Aaron

Hank Aaron

On February 5, 1934, a day before Babe Ruth’s 39th birthday, future all-time home run leader Hammerin’ Hank Aaron is born in Mobile, Alabama.

The slugger, who will finish his career hitting 755 home runs playing for the Braves and Brewers, will surpass the ‘Bambino’s’ all-time record of 714 home runs in 1974, after receiving much hate mail from people who did not want to see a black man break baseball’s hallowed mark.

It was destined to happen.

And with amazing class Hank showed us all how.

 

Atlanta scores seven runs in seventh inning (April 4, 2003)

Tags

2003, Andruw Jones, April 4, Atlanta Braves, Chipper Jones, Gary Sheffield, Miami Marlins, Montreal Expos

Andruw Jones

In one inning, the Atlanta Braves wiped out three games’ worth of frustration. The Braves scored seven runs in the seventh, highlighted by Andruw Jones’ three-run homer, and went on to beat the Florida Marlins 12-7 on April 4, 2003.

It was Atlanta’s first victory after an 0-3 start — the team’s worst since 1988.

We relaxed and did our thing. We’ll be OK. We got the jitters out. Now we can play our game. That was obvious in the seventh inning. ~Marcus Giles who had three of Atlanta’s 16 hits

The Braves were swept by Montreal in the first series of the year, getting outscored 17-2. Atlanta, which had won 11 straight division titles, had not started so poorly since going 0-10 in 1988. All that changed in the seventh, when the Braves pounded on Marlins relievers Blaine Neal and especially Vladimir Nunez (0-1).

Trailing 5-2, Atlanta started the inning with five straight hits. Gary Sheffield had a run-scoring single, Chipper Jones hit an RBI double off the center-field wall and Andruw Jones followed with a three-run homer into the center-field stands off Nunez.

 

Francisco Rodriguez becomes the quickest reliever ever to reach 40 saves, breaking John Smoltz’s record (July 20, 2008)

Tags

2008, Francisco Rodriquez, John Smoltz, July 20

Surpassing John Smoltz’s effort for the 2003 Braves by ten games, on July 20, 2008, Francisco Rodriguez becomes the quickest reliever ever to reach 40 saves.

The Angels closer strikes out the side in the ninth of a 5-3 come-from-behind victory of the Red Sox, completing a sweep of the reigning World Series champions.

R. A. Dickey is closing in on two milestones in 2017

Tags

2017, Atlanta Braves, R. A. Dickey

Dickey is closing in on two milestones: 2,000 innings pitched and 1,500 strikeouts. He’s currently at 1,883.2 and 1,341, respectively.

So… he needs 116.1 innings and 159 strikeouts. Both are possible this season, especially the innings, but I wouldn’t bet on either, especially the strikeouts.

Dickey hasn’t K’d more than 126 each of the last two seasons, even after start totals of 33, then 29.

As far as the innings are concerned, it’s tough to say. While he has pitched at least 169.2 innings each of the last seven seasons, there is a lot of competition to make the Braves’ rotation this year.

This could mean a few different scenarios playing out this season:

• Dickey spends the whole year in the Braves’ rotation (gets to 116.1 IP).
• Dickey gets traded at some point this season (then gets to 116.1 IP with another team).
• Dickey loses his starting spot, then moves to the bullpen.

If Dickey is better than expected, or the guys who are close to a call-up are worse than expected, he could see himself reaching both of these milestones in Braves’ uniform because the Braves will most likely exercise their club option on him after this season.

 

Braves begin new ballpark chapter at SunTrust Park with 5-2 win (April 14, 2017)

Tags

2017, April 14, Atlanta Braves, Bobby Cox, Chipper Jones, Dale Murphy, Hank Aaron, Jimmie Carter, John Smoltz, Phil Niekro, Tom Glavine

It was a great day in Atlanta Braves history. Once again, a new stadium.

Chipper Jones sat in the Atlanta Braves dugout Friday afternoon, a few hours ahead of the Braves’ first regular-season home game at their new stadium, SunTrust Park, the future Hall of Famer fielded a question about what fans might be saying as they entered the ballpark for the first time.

“I would venture a guess the word mumbled the most — maybe not even mumbled — would be ‘Wow,'” the Braves’ icon said.

“I mean, look at that video board. Look at the LED lights, the incredible green grass, this incredibly orange clay. They watch how balls fly out of here and they see the skyline and everything, and they say, ‘Wow.’ I said it. Everybody else is going to say it. …This is very impressive.”

In addition to Jones, Braves legends Hank Aaron, Bobby Cox, Tom Glavine, Dale Murphy, Phil Niekro, John Smoltz were present. They were honored as theirs and other retired numbers were unveiled. Aaron threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Cox. A prominent fan, former President Jimmy Carter, also was in attendance.

And the Braves beat San Diego 5-2.

 

Hank Aaron

Tags

April 8, Hank Aaron

Hank is my hero. Great article his momentous day on April 8.

Trouble with the Curve

It was 43 years ago today that Hank Aaron became baseball’s all-time home run king.   Aaron awoke that morning perched atop baseball’s most coveted leader board; tied with the larger than life and most legendary sports figure in the world, George Herman Ruth. The world had been watching and waiting for months as all ears and eyes became focused on the bat in Aaron’s hands.  It would be those hands and the flick of those wrists that would propel the game’s most talented yet unassuming men into immortality.   For years, Aaron had been chasing the record with his particular brand of quiet excellence. Often in the shadow of the flashier talents of the era – players like Mantle, Mays, and Robinson.

Pitcher Claude Osteen once said of Aaron, “You have a better chance of slapping a live rattlesnake across the face and getting away with it than you…

View original post 1,016 more words

Some fun Opening Day facts about the Braves (April 3, 2017)

Tags

2017, April 3, Atlanta Braves, Greg Maddux, John Smolts, Phil Niekro, Tie Game, Tom Glavine, Tony Cloninger

I love opening day. There is nothing like it.

Here are some fun facts!

• Going back all the way to 1876 when they were the the Boston Red Stockings, the Braves have a total record of 78-62-1 on Opening Day.
• Their first Opening Day game, according to Baseball Almanac, was against the Hartford Dark Blues (old time baseball names are weird) which they lost 3-2
• Tie games are rare in baseball these days, but that didn’t stop the Braves from playing the Phillies to a 2-2 tie on Opening Day 1950
• The Braves pitcher with the most Opening Day starts in the franchise’s history is Phil Niekro with 8. Greg Maddux came in a close second with 7.
• Speaking of Maddux, between 1990-2003…the only pitchers to make Opening Day starts for the Braves were Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, and John Smoltz to the surprise of exactly no one. Who was the pitcher who broke the streak? Russ Ortiz
• Julio Teheran is about to make his 4th consecutive Opening Day start for the Braves. The other two pitchers for the franchise since it moved to Atlanta to accomplish the same feat? Rick Mahler (1985-1988) and Greg Maddux (1993-1996)
• The Braves played an insane Opening Day game in their game in Atlanta where Tony Cloninger pitched 13 innings (!) while striking out 12 batters and future skipper of the Evil Empire Joe Torre drove in the Braves only two runs on a pair of solo shots. It is worth noting that the Braves lost the game despite Cloninger going 13 innings which had to feel…..not great assuming he had any feeling left in his body after that start.

Source: Some fun Opening Day facts about the Braves – Talking Chop

Atlanta Braves establish a franchise-record 14th straight victory (May 1, 2000)

Tags

2000, Andruw Jones, Atlanta Braves, May 1, Quilvio Veras

Quilvio Veras

The Braves establish a franchise-record 14th straight victory on May 1, 2000, with a 2-1 victory at Dodger Stadium.

Quilvio Veras’, playing second, third-inning homer proves to be the difference. Signed by the New York Mets as an amateur free agent in 1989, Veras made his Major League Baseball debut with the Florida Marlins on April 25, 1995, and appeared in his final game on July 13, 2001.

Andruw Jones will bat 2-4.

Atlanta Braves Table

Batting	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	PA	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
Quilvio Veras 2B	4	2	2	1	0	0	4	.330	.412	.420	.832
Andruw Jones CF	4	0	2	0	0	1	4	.304	.398	.554	.952
Chipper Jones 3B	4	0	1	0	0	0	4	.297	.393	.516	.909
Andres Galarraga 1B	3	0	1	0	1	0	4	.294	.375	.671	1.046
Brian Jordan RF	3	0	0	0	1	1	4	.208	.309	.313	.622
Javy Lopez C	4	0	0	0	0	1	4	.263	.313	.408	.721
Bobby Bonilla LF	3	0	0	0	0	1	3	.292	.346	.521	.867
Trent Hubbard LF	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.190	.320	.381	.701
Walt Weiss SS	4	0	0	0	0	1	4	.302	.412	.349	.761
Kevin Millwood P	3	0	0	0	0	3	3	.000	.091	.000	.091
Rudy Seanez P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
John Rocker P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Team Totals	33	2	6	1	2	8	35	.182	.229	.303	.532

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 3/10/2017.

Going into his 20th MLB season, Colon is closing in on Juan Marichal‘s record for most wins by a pitcher from the Dominican Republic

Tags

Atlanta Braves, Bartolo Colon, Dominican Republic

Going into his 20th MLB season, Bartolo Colon is indeed closing in on Juan Marichal‘s record for most wins by a pitcher from the Dominican Republic.

Colon is sitting on 233 career wins, just 10 behind Marichal’s 243. Are 10 or 11 wins this year obtainable? Certainly. 

In the six seasons since missing the 2010 season with elbow surgery, Colon has averaged 13 and a third wins per. If the Braves’ offense doesn’t lay an egg every time he’s on the mound (see: Shelby Miller, 2015), then Colon could reach this milestone with the Braves this season.

Also, a fun number to track this year will be his strikeouts.

Colon is currently 135 away from 2,500. Similar to the wins, if he hasn’t lost anything from last year, then this is possible, as well.

Source: Atlanta Braves Veterans Closing In On Significant Milestones