Getting over the Georgia jinx: It's going to take a team effort of pitching and hitting. The fans will be rockin!Hello all and welcome back to the X22 Report. The Braves tried their darnest in LA to beat the Dodgers and they were so close to do it. As we saw in LA their team can change a game in a blink of an eye. A game of inches has been has been the difference in the first 3 games. We see the Braves offense prevailed in game 4 and the Dodgers offense prevailed in game 5. The Braves are now in the near same predicament as they were in 2020. Two big differences this go around, because the Braves have have home field advantage, they will not be in a neutral park, they'll be at Truist Park and have every seat filled up from start to end full of rowdy fans. Let's get into some deciphering.
Today we're going to look back at the 1969 Atlanta Braves. The first season the Atlanta Braves saw post season. This would be Hank Aaron's and Phil Niekro's first NLCS. It would be Aaron's only NLCS as back in 1957 and 1958 there was no NLCS. This would be Niekro's first of two NLCS with the Atlanta Braves. From here we're going to look at the combination of #44 Hank Aaron and #35 Phil Niekro's numbers as to what they did in the regular season on games 79 and game 83 and compare it to what the 2021 Atlanta Braves did in the regular season.
We're combining the numbers because it's going to take pitching and hitting to overcome the powerhouse that is the Dodgers. So 44+35 = 79. Game 79. And as we done before we're going to look at a 162 game season and subtract 79 games. So 162-79 = 83. Game 89. Ok, now lets compare 1969 and 2021 seasons.
Game 79 - 1969 and 2021
1969 - game 79
July, 4, 1969, Game 79 Atlanta Braves @ San Francisco Giants; Braves lose 7 - 3This was game 2 of a doubleheader against the Giants. Hank Aaron played in game 1 but sat out in game 2. Nor would Niekro play in either game as he would pitch in the next game, game 80. Hank Aaron didn't play in game 80 so he may have had an injury.
Looking at game 791 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Braves
0 0 0 1 0 5 0 1 x Giants
In the 2nd inning Mike Lum would get a Sac Fly RBI and the next batter, Bob Didier, would get a RBI single.
In the 3rd inning Tito Francona would get a RBI single knocking in Felipe Alou.
In the bottom of the 4th, Braves pitcher Ron Reed would give up a solo home run to Bobby Bonds
In the 6th Reed would lose control walking the first two batters, he would go on and give up five singles in the inning and have a wild pitch and we see that's the inning that changed the game.
As said Hank Aaron would not play in this game, but his bother Tommie Aaron would come in as a pinch hitter.in the 9th. He hit a fly ball out to right field
Tommie Aaron was younger brother of Hank. He was born August 5, 1939 and passed away August 16, 1984. Tommie died of leukemia and was just 45 years old.
Tommie Aaron
Year Age Tm Lg G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ TB GDP
1962 22 MLN NL 141 382 334 54 77 20 2 8 38 6 0 41 58 .231 .312 .374 .686 86 125 10
1963 23 MLN NL 72 151 135 6 27 6 1 1 15 0 3 11 27 .200 .257 .281 .538 56 38 7
1965 25 MLN NL 8 17 16 1 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 .188 .235 .188 .423 21 3 1
1968 28 ATL NL 98 308 283 21 69 10 3 1 25 3 4 21 37 .244 .295 .311 .606 82 88 9
1969 29 ATL NL 49 66 60 13 15 2 0 1 5 0 1 6 6 .250 .318 .333 .652 82 20 1
1970 30 ATL NL 44 66 63 3 13 2 0 2 7 0 0 3 10 .206 .242 .333 .576 50 21 5
1971 31 ATL NL 25 56 53 4 12 2 0 0 3 0 0 3 5 .226 .268 .264 .532 48 14 3
7 Yr 7 Yr 7 Yr 7 Yr 437 1046 944 102 216 42 6 13 94 9 8 86 145 .229 .292 .327 .619 75 309 36
162 162 162 162 162 388 350 38 80 16 2 5 35 3 3 32 54 .229 .292 .327 .619 75 115 13
Tommie played in
7 seasons as seen he had just 944 AB's and 13 home runs. Hank Aaron and Tommie Aaron are still are the home run kings of siblings at 768 As seen Tommie total home runs was 13 and that was Aarons total's his rookie season we cant help but think of #13 Ronald Acuna Jr.
In 1969 Tommie Aaron wore #18. In 2021 Drew Smyly wears #18 and we saw how big he came through in game 4. Never take for granted these performances.
The first game of the doubleheader the Braves would lose in the 10th inning. They had a chance to win it when Bobby Tillman hit a homerun in the top of the 10th but the pitching failed in bottom of the 10th. Hank Aaron would got 2-3 in this game with RBI by bases loded HBP, he also would score when he walked in the game.
In game 80, Phil Niekro would get the win in a
7 - 1 victory over the Giants. He gave up a run in the 1st and shut them out the rest of the way to 2.16 ERA on the season.
Here's an article on Joe Niekro right before Phil Niekro passed away.
www.sportscasting.com/the-tragic-death-of-houston-astros-legend-joe-niekro/Longest scoreless innings streak to begin postseason career, all as SP:
1905-11 Christy Mathewson: 28 IP
1980-81 Joe Niekro: 18 IP
2020 Ian Anderson: 17 2/3 IP
Ian Anderson will be next starting pitcher come Saturday. In 1973 and 1974 as a Brave Joe wore #36. in 2021 Ian Anderson wears #36.
2021 Atlanta Braves - Game 79June 30, 2021, game 79, Atlanta Braves vs New York Mets; Braves win 20-2This was the highest scoring game the Braves had in 2021 and the second time they've done it. The first time was on May 21st, a 20-1 victory againt the Pirates both of these wins were in Atlanta. This win would put the Braves 5 games back of the Mets
Looking at game 791 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mets
2 0 2 7 2 0 1 6 x Braves
Ronald Acuna Jr 1-5 HR(
22), RBI, R
Freddie Freeman 3-3, 2B(11), RBI, 4 R, BB
Ahre Arianza 1-2 HR(4), 2 RBI, R
Ozzie Albies 5-6., 2HR(15), 7 RBI, 4R, SB(11)
Austin Riley 3-6, 3 RBI, R
Guillermo Heredia 2-5, 2 2B(18) RBI, 2R
Max Fried - 5IP 2R, 2 ER, 3H, 2BB, 7K; 4.16 ERA
Pete Alonso started the scoring for the Mets with a two run home run in the top of the first.
Ronald Acuna would hit his 22nd home run in first inning and Albies would single in Freeman when Freeman reached second on a wild pitch.
Riley drives in Freeman and Albies with a single in the 3rd inning
The Braves would score 7 runs with 4 singles, a double, and a ground out in the 4th
Braves would go on to have more scoring brigades, Albies home runs came in the 5th and 8th inning, and Adriaza's home run came in as a pinch hit for Freeman. Max Fried's record going into this game (4-4) and he would get the win making his record (5-4). The Braves record after his win was 38-41 and Mets record was 42-35. Just to note the 1969 Braves played the Mets in the NLCS. More on that later.
In 20 runs scored against the Pirates the back on game 45, The Braves would hit
7 home runs.
Ronald Acuna Jr - HR(14), Ozzie Albies - HR(
7), Austin Riley - 2 HR(
7), Marcell Ozuna - HR(
7), Dansby Swanson - HR(
7), Ehre Adrianza - HR(3)
A total of 45 home runs for the 6 players on game 45.
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Game 83: 1969 and 20211969 Atlanta Braves - Game 83July 7, 1969, game 83 - Atlanta Braves @ Los Angeles Dodgers; Braves win 5-3We have a Braves vs Dodgers sighting and it's a winner. Let's look at how this game went
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 90 1 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 Braves
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 Dodgers
Hank Aaron 3-5, HR(
22), 2 RBI, 2R
Orlando Cepeda 2-4, R
Clete Boyer 3-4 2B(8)
Felix Milan 3-4. 2B(11), 2 RBI, R
George Stone - 9 IP, 2R, 2ER, 3H, 0BB, 2HR; 2.
77 ERA
Gill Garido would start the Braves scoring in the top of the 2nd on a single
In the top of the third Hank Aaron would hit a two run home run, driving in Tony Gonzalez, off of pitcher Alan Foster.
It was Aaron 22nd home run of the seaon, 532 HR of his career, and
77 HR against the Dodgers for his career.
In Aaron's first 8 (54'-61)season he would have exactly
44 home runs against the Dodgers. In 15 season (54' -68") he would have 74 home runs. In 1969 this was his third of the season against the Dodgers. He would hit two more home runs against them that season, one being the the game after game 83.
Also we saw Acuna hit his 22nd home run in 2021 in game 79.
2021 Atlanta Braves - Game 83July 4, 2021, game 83 - Atlanta Braves vs Miami Marlins; Braves win 8-7 in the 10th.Another 4th of July game, this year the Braves win in a walk-off. Acuna would hit his 23rd home run in this game and Max Fried would get the pinch hit single to win it with a walk-off.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 100 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 3 0 Marlins
0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 4 1 Braves
Ronald Acuna Jr - 1-4, HR(23), 3 RBI, R, SF
Freddie Freeman - 1-3, R, 2BB
Dansby Swanson - 2-4, 2 2B(17) , RBI, 2R, BB
Guillermo Heredia - 2 - 5, R
Orlando Arcia - 2-4, RBI, R, BB
Charlie Morton 1-2, R
Charlie Morton 5.1 IP, 4R, 4ER, 5H, 2BB, 7K, HR; 3.91 ERA
Ronald Acuna would hit a 2 run home run to give the Braves the lead in bottom of the 3rd, he would drive in Morton who hit a single.
Adam Duvall when he was on the Marlins would get a sac fly in the top of the 4th. He then would hit a 3 run home run in the 6th inning
Swanson would get an run back in the bottom of the 6th inning on double driving in Freeman.
Shane Green would pitch the 9th for the Braves and gave up 2 home runs
The bottom of the 9th the Braves would show no quits. They would score 4 runs
Riley the Braves MVP lead the inning off with a single.Arcia, Almonte and Acuna Jr would play heroes in the 9th getting the RBI's Acuna would tie the game on a sac fly. In the top of the 10th Will Smith would have a perfect inning
On to the bottom of the 10th.Riley is place on 2nd they intentionally walk Swanson, Heredia hits flyball to outfield and Riley tags and gets to third base
Marlins intentionally walk Arcia, Bases loaded and Kevan Smith up to bat. Riley tries to score on a wild pitch and is thrown out at home. 2 out and they intentionally walk Smith knowing the Braves are out of position players. Max Fried comes up to bat and gets a line drive single knocking in Swanson. Braves record 41-42.
How instant replay could determine Riley never touched home
As seen in the 1969 Braves they so happen to be playing the Dodgers and beat the Dodgers. in game 83. Braves in game 79 smashed the Mets and that was the Braves rival in 1969. These deciphers are showing the Braves over came the Mets. In game 83 the Braves were just 4 out of first place. Also just to not about 1969 The Braves were 44-30 on game 74. There still plenty to talk about 74 in this series.
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In the 1969 NLCS it was the best of 5. Unfortunately the Braves were swept in those games. The pitching didn't come through, but Hank Aaron would hit a home run in all three games.
Hank Aaron's had an amazing series though
Name G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
Henry Aaron 3 14 3 5 2 0 3 7 0 1 .357 .357 1.143 1.500
As seen in game 5 Freeman hit his 2nd home run of the series and third of the playoffs this time it wasn't enough. As seen we're really going to have stellar pitching the rest of the way. Baseball is hard to predict. Now the Braves have home field advantage, they have Soler back, and the team will have the fans.
Hopefully the Braves can take it on game 6, though there have been lot's of 7's in the deciphers. How will that 7 show up? Who knows? Hold tight and buckle up ladies and gentleman, it's going to be a wild ride! If the Braves advance it will be since 1999 since the Braves made the World Series. That is 22 years. This would make the X22's very proud of this accomplishment. We shown the Braves can win and these announcers over use of the "flip the script" saying of the X22 report used on episode 3. It's going to from 2020 to 2021 when the Braves win and beat the Dodgers to win the NLCS and go to the World Series.
This is what it was like when the Braves traveled to LA. Imagine what it's going to be like when they come back to a sold out crowd.