NLDS Game 4: Remember When They Said The Series Was Over?

As the MLB regular season came to close and the Atlanta Braves had clinched the NL East Division, all the sports “experts” were flapping their gums about who the Braves would face, many declared no matter who their opponent would be, Atlanta would fare better on the road than at home in SunTrust Park based on their road vs at-home record.

That logic turned out to be a whole lot of hooey.

The LA Dodgers shut out the Braves 6-0 in Game 1 and 3-0 in Game 2.  Things were looking pretty dismal for Atlanta coming in to Game 3.  The fans were rocking the ballyard Sunday night.  Their enthusiasm was contagious.  I felt the excitement sitting in my den.  It brought back the treasured memories of those glory years of Smoltz, Glavine, “Mad Dog” Maddox and Chipper Jones.

Faced with elimination, Manager Brian Snitker masterfully used 7 pitchers to pound out a win.  He pulled Sean Newcombe out at the top of the third inning.  Then he brought in Kevin Gausman, Max Fried, Touki Toussaint, Chad Sobotka, A.J. Minter and closed with Arodys Vizcaino.

Snitker said he will start right-hander Mike Foltynewicz for this afternoon’s game.  Folty, I’m sure, will look to redeem himself after throwing 50 pitches and going just two innings in Game 1.

I’m not very good at predictions, but I’d have to say the Dodgers were definitely intimidated by the raucous fans chanting and chopping with their tomahawks.  I mean, what other ballpark dims the stadium lights so everyone can turn on the flashlight on their iPhones and send up a thunderous “warchant”?  It’s an impressive sight.

I say the Braves take Game 4 forcing Game 5 back in Chavez Ravine.  Then their penchant for doing well on the road will become a factor.

"My heart's still pounding," first baseman Freddie Freeman said, moments after the last out. "That's how we've been all year."

Tomahawk Chop. Grand slam. Goosebumps. pic.twitter.com/hrv5r6MiRz

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) October 8, 2018

"@FreddieFreeman5, party of one! Your dinger is ready."#ForEachOther pic.twitter.com/mKp1PPQ9hE

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 8, 2018

 

UPDATE:  The Braves were eliminated in Game 4 tonight.  This was not the ending they were hoping for, but it was one helluva ride.  See ya next year.  #ForEachOther #ChopOn

NLDS: Atlanta Braves Vs LA Dodgers

Finally! The long, dry spell for devout Braves fans is over. Atlanta will face the LA Dodgers at Chavez Ravine Thursday night.

The Atlanta Braves are headed back to the postseason for the first time since 2013.

The news of the day comes at you at such a furious pace it’s a little like drinking from a fire hose and for that reason I am looking forward to tuning in to watch my beloved Bravos and wash away the dreck of the day.

Every Sports Illustrated “expert”, save one, is predicting the Dodgers will emerge victorious over Atlanta.  That may well be the case, but that will not dampen my hope they could be very wrong.

The Braves might be the best in late-game situations. Their three game-winning homers are tied for most in the bigs with the Cards. Over the last two seasons, they’ve scored 37% of their runs in the 7th inning or later. They've scored 100 runs in the seventh inning or later this year, the most in the National League, while hitting a league-best .262 and posting a majors-best .351 on-base percentage in late situations.

It’s been a long time since America’s Team won an unprecedented 14 consecutive division titles.  Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig boasted when LA clinched the NL West Division, “Hey, Atlanta, I’ll see you soon baby! And the next one─Chicago, Colorado, no matter who’s going─we’re gonna beat it.  And we’re going to the World Series again.  And this time, we’re going to win the World Series.”

I know some fellas who would like nothing better than to make Puig eat those words.

Houston, We Have A World Champion!

I thought NK's team.was called the Pyongyang Pricks. Ya learn something new everyday.

— Captain Sam (@NJDevilNYGuy) November 2, 2017

One Win Away

When I was knee-high to a grasshopper and television was broadcast in black and white, I remember joining my dad in the living room of our home to watch the New York Yankees play ball. I fell in love with the game and legendary players like Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Roger Maris, Tony Kubek, Mel Stottlemeyer and Mickey Mantle.  Back in the day, games were called by LA Dodgers HOFer Pee Wee Reese and St. Louis Browns’ HOFer Dizzy Dean on NBC and by Pee Wee and Curt Gowdy on CBS.  My dad would always laugh when ‘ol Dizzy would say, “He slud into third.”

Throughout the 1970’s and 80’s the Braves were pretty much the worst team in baseball, but when Ted Turner decided to buy the team in 1976 he began broadcasting the Braves’ game on TBS and after a while the Braves became known as “America’s Team” garnering fans everywhere as Pete Van Wieren, Skip Caray, and Joe Simpson called the games. 

I lived in Atlanta for four years when the Braves started their miracle run to the World Series.  The Braves won 14 titles from 1991-2005.  The Braves won the 1995 World Series against the Cleveland Indians.  Their decade of dominance ended shortly thereafter.

Last year, the Chicago Cubs, the team with the longest title drought in baseball history defeated the Cleveland Indians.  This World Series I’m rootin’ for the Astros.

Thousands of people lost their homes and dozens lost their lives when Hurricane Harvey deluged Houston with 52 inches of rain.  The Astros faithful are still picking through their rain-soaked belongings and homes.  The Houston players and coaches say they are on a mission to give their fans something to celebrate.

Some nights you never forget.  After more than 400 pitches and more than five hours, the Houston Astros managed to make one Dodger lead after another disappear.  They emerged with a 13-12 10th-inning victory in front of a Minute Maid Park crowd of more than 43,000 ecstatic fans─a testament to the magic of the World Series and the timeless power of baseball.  

Our national pastime has on more than one occasion helped a nation in need of healing.  For three nights in 2001 in the Bronx, anxiety and gloom momentarily gave way to a unifying moment following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

God, I love the game of baseball.

HOUSTON ASTROS: World Series Game 6 Trailer (Edited By: Me) #EarnHistory pic.twitter.com/lVQnM0Fztg

— Bonda (@BenOndaTop) October 30, 2017