Morning Chop: Braves 8/17
Aug 16, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves left fielder Justin Upton (8) celebrates a walk off home run with manager Fredi Gonzalez (33) in the tenth inning against the Washington Nationals at Turner Field. The Braves won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports
Nationals vs. Braves: Justin Upton’s 10th-inning homer lifts Atlanta to 3-2 win
ATLANTA — This season has beaten down the Washington Nationals. They sat inside the visitor’s clubhouse practically speechless late Friday night, having watched the Atlanta Braves dance around home plate in the 10th inning and walk-off home run hero Justin Upton race around the bases to meet them.
Jayson Werth, Adam LaRoche and Ian Desmond sat at their lockers still in their uniforms and stared at nothing. A yellow towel draped over the head of hunched-over Ian Krol, who served up the Upton homer in the gut-punch of a 3-2 loss.
Atlanta Braves Shouldn’t over Extend Themselves to Add a Bat
The Atlanta Braves could stand to add a competent hitter to their bench, and they are running out of time to do so.
The non-waiver trade deadline came and went with July, but the Braves will have until the end of August to negotiate a trade for players who have cleared waivers. Of course, that limits their targets and essentially guarantees the Braves would have to take on a poor contract (otherwise the player(s) wouldn’t have cleared waivers).
With the best record in baseball at 74-51, however, the Braves should feel comfortable making postseason plans. And this places an emphasis on a “win now” philosophy.
When a team feels it is on the precipice of a serious run at the World Series, making a bold and risky move becomes a more acceptable cost of business.
Mac Daddy!!?
I was cruising around the net looking for Braves’ gems, and found that Lauren T had posted a couple of pics on her personal blog of Brian McCann (along with wife and baby). I hadn’t seen the pics before, so I thought I’d post them here. Cute kid! Takes entirely after BMac’s wife! Sorry Brian.
Curtis Compton – AJC
Curtis Compton – AJC