It was an improbable win decided by an unlikely hero in the grandest of manners. As Brooks Conrad looks ahead at his future, it's hard for him to imagine experiencing anything more energizing than what he achieved at Turner Field on May 20.
With the walk-off grand slam that he drilled off Reds closer Francisco Cordero during that afternoon's 10-9 Braves win, Conrad lived a dream shared by anybody who has ever stood in a batter's box and was the key player in a dramatic seven-run, ninth-inning comeback that obviously caught the attention of the baseball world.
Conrad was voted Major League Baseball's Clutch Performer of the Month presented by Pepsi for the month of May. He received 43 percent of the votes, easily outdistancing Philadelphia's Roy Halladay, whose perfect game on May 29th helped him finish second with 19 percent of the vote. Others receiving votes included Minnesota's Justin Morneau (17 percent), Texas' Vladimir Guerrero (8 percent), Tampa Bay's Rafael Soriano (6 percent) and Oakland's Dallas Braden (5 percent).
Always good to beat a Philly player. And remember, when you think clutch, think Pepsi...
I didn't even know there was a Clutch Player of the Month. Does this mean the Braves swept the "of the Month of May" awards? Troy Glaus for Player of the Month, Jason Heyward for Rookie of the Month, and now Brooksie?
0 recs | 32 comments
Way to go Brooksie, but we didn’t sweep as I think Ubaldo Jimenez got pitcher of the month over Tim Hudson.
Dave_D - June 7, 2010
Great news!
Makes me feel better for forgetting to vote.
10-4 - June 7, 2010
That is so cool! Now award Bobby manager of May!
MBL1 - June 7, 2010 via mobile
Oh and
It was may 20th….
MBL1 - June 7, 2010 via mobile
Thanks, I’ve corrected. That was actually the caption that came with the photo.
gondeee - June 7, 2010
Way to go Brooks! I like scrappy players like Brooks. He plays the game the right way and I hope he finds his niche and stays on the team for years to come.
Sparhawk - June 7, 2010
Brooksy deserves it
and i hope he gets more playing time.
Also, I didn’t know “clutchiest” was a word.
atl192485 - June 7, 2010
Its TC
You should know better. We don’t follow grammar rules.
MBL1 - June 7, 2010 via mobile
Well, it’s a word now.
gondeee - June 7, 2010
If you told me Glaus would win NL POTM in May I would have been surprised, but if you told me Brooks Conrad would beat two guys who pitched perfect games for clutch player of the month I would no longer take your opinions seriously.
Great job by Brooks. Unfortunately, I was on an airplane during “the game.” I got on it and it was 10-3 in the top of the ninth… My reaction when I saw the score must have been priceless.
BenDuronio - June 7, 2010
He ripped a double off that fat dodger last night also...
To bad we didn’t do shit afterward!
TCfromDubVee - June 7, 2010
And stole 3rd base too.
NCChopper - June 7, 2010
Player of the Month, Rookie of the Month, Clutch Player of the Month. And then there’s Marteeeen. No wonder we are on a roll and in first place.
DawgB - June 7, 2010
I always love to hear “we are in first place”…unless that’s coming from a Phillies fan, of course.
MBL1 - June 7, 2010 via mobile
Brooks deserved this award for his reaction rounding first base during that game alone. Perfect games are common these days (seemingly) anyway.
redwards95 - June 7, 2010
...
Smoltz's Beard - June 7, 2010
Reminds me a bit of LSU beating Kentucky, in Kentucky...
on a last second hail mary, and the fan reaction of that moment. Conrad reacts to what he thought was an out, and you can almost see it on his face when he turns back around, he sees the dugout and their reactions, it confuses him, and he has to turn to figure out why the hell they are all freaking out like that.
Mr. Sanchez - June 7, 2010
Touch em all Brooksie
You’ll never hit another home run like this. Probably one of the most memorable Braves moments I’ve witnessed. I know Sids’s slide had a lot more significance but for pure energy this one ranks right up there.
adc62 - June 7, 2010
Lol never gets old
MBL1 - June 7, 2010
Antoher thing
After striking out, JHey was one of the main dogpilers on Brookise. Team players i love them!
TCfromDubVee - June 7, 2010
One thing I don't understand...
Why was Dallas Braden’s perfect game so far down the list? It was against the offensive jauggernaut, the Tampa Bay Rays.
dlkinser86 - June 7, 2010 via mobile
Way to go! (I’m glad I voted!) Now we’ve beat the Phillies in more than one way! (Halladay was on the list)
Joseph_C - June 7, 2010
Yeahhh, Brooksie!
The downer to that last bit, Gondee, is the other award is Pitcher of the Month.
djvog - June 7, 2010
Rafael Soriano
I was not expecting to see him on the list!
murph3 - June 7, 2010
Clutch players
I have a friend who does some of the statistical analysis for Baseball Prospectus and he is adamant that there is no such thing as “clutch players.” I’m not sure I really agree with him, but he’s the numbers guy.
Anyway, statistically clutch or not, Brooks is the man.
coldriver10 - June 7, 2010
Sometimes, I think, we tend to rely way too much on stats. I for one, am getting overloaded with them. What is FIP, anyway? Farts Per Inning Pitched?
DawgB - June 7, 2010
Yup
And there’s also this new stat, Sunflower Seeds Consumed Per Game, or SSCG.
MBL1 - June 7, 2010 via mobile
That actually replaced the JSSG (Juice Streams Spit per Game) when they banned chewing tobacco
DawgB - June 7, 2010
har har.
Smoltz's Beard - June 7, 2010
I agree
HEYJUDE - June 7, 2010
Congrats Brooksie!
Well deserved!
HEYJUDE - June 7, 2010
Brooks Conrad’s eyes are very calm. That is why he won this distinguished award which comes with a 10 dollar gift card to The Sizzler.
UMDBHIK - June 7, 2010
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