Loading ...It All Comes Down To This For Bobby And The Braves
Written by Jonathan on October 3, 2010 – 10:23 amThis isn’t the ideal spot where we, as Braves fans, wanted to be going into the last game of the season. However, I’ve said all along that it was entirely possible that the result of this season could come down to the final homestand and, in fact, game number 162.
Now I’m not even going to write about the events of the last two games that have landed the Braves in this position because, for one, I was there for all of them and don’t want to think about it any more and, secondly, I’ve read about it endlessly on every website in the world. But nevertheless, here we are in pretty much a must-win situation. Let me break down the possibilities for the Braves based on their results today and the Padres results today.
If Atlanta Wins and San Diego Wins there is a three-team tiebreaker for the first time ever. The Padres and Giants tie for the lead in the NL West and have the same record as the Braves do. The Padres and Giants will play a one-game playoff to determine the winner of the NL West on Monday. The loser travels to Atlanta to play a one-game playoff to decide the Wild Card winner on Tuesday.
If Atlanta Wins and San Diego Loses then Atlanta wins the Wild Card and San Diego is eliminated from playoff contention by the Giants.
If Atlanta Loses and San Diego Loses then the Padres come to Atlanta on Monday for a one-game playoff to determine the NL Wild Card winner.
If Atlanta Loses and San Diego Wins then San Diego wins the NL West (tiebreaker head-to-head with San Francisco) and the Giants win the NL Wild Card. The Braves are eliminated from playoff contention.
So there are the 4 scenarios based on the outcome of two critical games today. The Braves play first, so once the game is over, all we can do is sit and watch and hope for the best. If the Braves win, we live to fight at least one more day, so that should be the only task at hand. In 3 of the 4 possible scenarios, the Braves have another shot, but it’s going to require getting the offense going.
I’m glad we have Hudson on the mound today, even though the prospect of him pitching on three days rest two times in a row is a little scary. The Phillies are getting their starters ready for the playoffs and pitching Hamels and Oswalt today…..scary, but not impossible.
This is, in fact, the last regular season game in a surely Hall of Fame career for Bobby Cox. Come on, Braves! It all comes down to this. Do it for yourselves, do it for the fans, and most importantly….DO IT FOR BOBBY!
Bobby Cox acknowledges the crowd on 10/2 at the Bobby Cox tribute ceremony. Photo - Jonathan Torrell.
We’ll have more pictures from the ceremony up in the next couple of days. First things first, let’s get our beloved manager to the playoffs.
Tags: Bobby Cox, Bobby Cox Retire, Last Game, NL Wild Card, playoffs, Retiring, San Diego Padres, Tiebreaker
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Bobby Cox Will Never Be Fired
Written by Colin on April 23, 2009 – 2:21 pmLet’s clear this up – I was having a conversation on Twitter about the Braves and their lack of performance when someone mentioned that – just maybe – if the Braves couldn’t perform with a well-tooled team that maybe it’s time to talk about Bobby Cox.
Say what?!
There aren’t many untouchables in the world of baseball – but Bobby Cox damn well better be one of them. He not just led the Braves to 14 straight division titles, he was GM before he was the Braves’ manager and made many of the moves to build the team he’d later lead to pennant titles. The man is a legend. He’s the originator of the Bobby Cox Waddle – on his way to more ejections than any other manager in the history of the game. He’s solely responsible for the atmosphere in the Braves’ clubhouse that is legendary amongst major leaguers. He’s Bobby Cox.
Bring it on. Tell me how we only won one World Series in 14 years of consecutive division championships. Tell me how we routinely underperform in the postseason. Talk to me about whatever you want. I don’t give a flying crap. Bobby Cox will never ever ever be fired.
Bobby Cox is the reason I love the game of baseball. I grew up watching Bobby and the Braves. He’s the only face left that’s been with the Braves I know through the thick and the thin – and it should stay that way as long as he wants to be here in Atlanta, smoking a stogie and watching over the team he has crafted over the last two decades.
He’s a living legend. He’s said he’ll retire when he’s ready. That may only be another year or two. Take your kids to the ballpark. Get seats near the dugout. Point Bobby out to them. Listen to him cheer on his players from the dugout, waiting to go out and get tossed instead of an integral player. Land his autograph. He’s a living legend. There haven’t been that many people in baseball like Bobby. He will leave when he’s ready to go spend time with his family on his farm outside the city.
Once he retires, then we’ll talk about his replacement. Not before then.
Tags: Bobby Cox, Bobby Cox Fired, Bobby Cox Retire
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