~JB, Gazebo coffee from Starbucks to fight off the suicidal tendencies.
What was I thinking?
I watched the Braves accumulate a 9-3 lead after an offensive revival of epic proportions. For the third game in a row our anemic bats were looking very much alive. After an inning that made me feel good to be a Braves fan, and good to be alive, I just knew everything was going our way. We were getting to Hammels, rattling him to the point that an errant throw plated yet another run before Teixeira added on to the pounding with his continued dominance.
I admit it, I was confident. Maybe overly so. It was in the bag to me. I even said halfway through, “This is the game I’ve been waiting for all year”. All we had to do was put it away. I thought for sure this is our turning point. Even the irony of Hard Luck Hampton on the mound in line to get his first 2008 win seemed suiting to me. We had a chance to kick the Phils while they were down and kick them hard. All we had to do was hold a 6 run lead for 4 1/2 and then jump to within 5.5 games back.
I guess it was too much to ask. Our turning point got carried out into the street and executed in broad daylight.
I’ve been teetering for some time on giving up on this season and dashing all my hopes on the Rocks of Suckititude. And then they win 2 of 3 in Miami, destroy the Phils on Friday night and produce a nine run fourth. I begin to believe, maybe naively so, that ”We’re back”.
But oh my foolish heart. Why hast thou trusted such a fickle mistress?
But why? Why do I look more eagerly for opportunities to believe rather than chances to throw in the towel and just hate my team for toying with me so? Because that’s baseball and anything can happen. I want to look for turning points. I search for them. And any true fan is anxiously awaiting the moment the miracle happens. That’s what makes baseball so beautiful.
I want to be there. I want to be watching when the chips are down, our backs are to the wall, and see firsthand the most unlikely comeback finally pieced together. And I want to believe and I tend to really think that my faith will bring about that miracle. If I pray the right prayer to the baseball gods they will stoop down and impart their favor upon my Braves bless them with supernatural ability to overcome the hole they’ve dug.
I want so desperately to see the next Kirk Gibson homer, another Francisco Cabrera moment, the amazing 21-1 finish. I want to see the reincarnated 1914 Miracle Braves- 11.5 games out of first on July 15th come back and win the World Series. And just when I think the planets align, the timing is right, and I’ve tuned in at the right moment… it just wasn’t right.
It’s like falling in love. But perhaps like true love, maybe it will come when I stop looking for it.
Some of us are looking for love around every corner and I guess that’s me. I see something as incredible as yesterday’s fourth inning and hear wedding bells ring. But alas, it is not so.
So today’s rubber game starts in about an hour and 20 minutes. We send Jorge Campillo, who was brilliant in his last start in Florida- a two hit, seven inning shutout that equaled his fifth win- to face the newly acquired Joe Blanton. The Phreshest Phillie is 5-12 with a 5.08 ERA for 2008.
Yes yesterday was devastating but it’s over and today is a chance to get a series win in Citizens Bank Park. Despite the disastrous bullpen performance yesterday, our starting pitching as of late has been a breath of fresh air and the bats have produced 26 runs in three games. Let’s see if Campillo can do it again and despite all things, a fourth day in a row of 8+ runs scored would really be exceptional.
I guess I’m still holding on to glimmers of hope until we’re really just truly and completely out of this thing. Because as a much wiser man than me once said “There’s one word that says it all in America. And that word is ‘you never know’.”
Ain’t it the truth. So even if you don’t feel like it…
Keep Choppin
4 Comments
July 27, 2008 at 6:04 pm
I just went ahead and turned off the game today. I just couldn’t watch another game given away. Is there any chance that we can get some Middle Relief this year or hold onto a lead?
Good by for today
July 27, 2008 at 5:04 pm
I just went ahead and turned off the game today. I just couldn't watch another game given away. Is there any chance that we can get some Middle Relief this year or hold onto a lead? Good by for today
July 27, 2008 at 8:31 pm
I know the feeling, CB. I did the exact same thing after McCann got railroaded. Bleh.
July 27, 2008 at 7:31 pm
I know the feeling, CB. I did the exact same thing after McCann got railroaded. Bleh.
July 28, 2008 at 10:32 am
I called it before the inning started. I believe my exact phrase was “Jo-Jo’s about to give up a 5-run lead”. Sure enough, one two-run homer and a three-run homer later, it was tied. I’m with you, JB….it’s hard to watch. I wrote my post today about my Braves insanity.
July 28, 2008 at 9:32 am
I called it before the inning started. I believe my exact phrase was "Jo-Jo's about to give up a 5-run lead". Sure enough, one two-run homer and a three-run homer later, it was tied. I'm with you, JB….it's hard to watch. I wrote my post today about my Braves insanity.
July 29, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Yes, I was hoping this series would be a turning point, like that come-from-behind-and-start-a-new season win over the Orioles a few years ago. My dad always said “Sports will break your heart.” Feel stomped flat!
July 29, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Yes, I was hoping this series would be a turning point, like that come-from-behind-and-start-a-new season win over the Orioles a few years ago. My dad always said "Sports will break your heart." Feel stomped flat!