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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,372 comments Add your comment
Murph
October 1st, 2012
11:21 am
Ross and BMac actually had very similar Septembers… 4 XBH each, a few RBI, a lot of K’s, etc.
Neither one can really be counted on to produce much with the bat. Ross gives the team a better shot to throw out runners, but with Medlen on the mound, I doubt the Cardinals will be running much either way. The guy has one of the best pickoff moves for a RH that I’ve ever seen.
Shaun
October 1st, 2012
11:22 am
We may not like it…we may hate it…but “it is what it is”. You play the games you are given to play. Winners win those games. Losers whine about the unfairness.
raleighbravefan, regardless of the results, this system is unfair. Any system that allows a team like the 2012 Tigers a bye in the one-game round while forcing a team like the Yankees or A’s into a one-game playoff is unfair. This is much bigger than the Braves and whether this system favors the Braves, would have favored them last season, etc. It’s about making the regular season mean something more than it does now and not over-rewarding the 6th- or 7th-best team in the AL with a first round bye, for example.
Any set up which results in losers in the post season is already a bad idea.
No. Any set-up that rewards a team playing in and winning a weak division over clearly superior teams who don’t have the fortune of playing in weak divisions is a bad idea.
raleighbravefan
October 1st, 2012
11:23 am
TOBF – I expect the Angels to sign Greinke…or Dodgers get in a bidding war with them. Either way, he will be too expensive for us.
Arkansas Transplant
October 1st, 2012
11:23 am
Anything short of a win on Friday and this season would be a failure.
MFin04
October 1st, 2012
11:24 am
“But with Medlen on the mound, I doubt the Cardinals will be running much either way. The guy has one of the best pickoff moves for a RH that I’ve ever seen.”
Teams have been running on Med’s a lot more lately it seems. I mean gotta do something to score runs when a guy has a sub 1.00 ERA. And with McCann behind the plate you bet your bottom dollar teams are going to run in a 1-game playoff, pickoff move or not.
TheOnlyBravesFan
October 1st, 2012
11:25 am
Greinke would have cost us about 2mil more by my calculations. (2mil for Maholm after trade, 4.5mil for Greinke)
Maholm 7quality starts out of 10 total (currently 2 straight qual. starts) 6IP/start
Greinke 9quality starts out of 13 total (currently 8 straight) Just under 7IP/start. And Greinke’s been shutdown over his last 8 starts. 2.04 ERA. Maholm doesn’t come close.
TheOnlyBravesFan
October 1st, 2012
11:27 am
Not exactly a fair comparison.. where’s Maholm’s additional 3 games?
He’s only started 10 with the Braves… the Angels got an “extra” start from Greinke at the end of July
phil
October 1st, 2012
11:28 am
Nah, the season won’t be a failure, but it would be a tremendous disappointment resulting in millions in property damage across the state and region…
TheOnlyBravesFan
October 1st, 2012
11:29 am
Yes Greinke is clearly the best pitcher EVER.
Didn’t say that anyway, but you can’t deny that he was the best pitcher moved at the deadline. Best pitcher ever isn’t Greinke, that honor goes to JJ.
Murph
October 1st, 2012
11:30 am
The Red Sox’s season has been a failure. The Phillies’ season has been a failure. If the Braves lose on Friday, I won’t consider their season to be a failure.
raleighbravefan
October 1st, 2012
11:30 am
Shaun – Of course, we could go back to 2 8-team leagues, with the winners meeting in the WS, and everyone else going home, if you really want to be “fair”. Life isn’t fair. Get over it, and play the games.
Arkansas Transplant
October 1st, 2012
11:30 am
TOBF, my point on that comparison was the fact that not only was Greinke’s numbers better but they were better over a larger sample. There’s no comparison out of Maholm and Greinke on which one of these pitchers is the better quality starter… no comparison.
MFin04
October 1st, 2012
11:31 am
TheOnlyBravesFan – Cherry picking. Guys have been equally the same pitcher.
Maholm 70% QS
Greinke 69% QS
Maholm has a 0.00 ERA in his last 1 starts. Greinke in his most important last start of the year had a 4.50+ ERA.
phil
October 1st, 2012
11:33 am
But you play the season with hopes of winning a championship….
It would certainly be disappointing, to say the least.
Then again, with some of you guys, winning the games doesn’t really seem to matter.
Everybody is a winner, no matter what.
TheOnlyBravesFan
October 1st, 2012
11:34 am
1 start… nice sample size. You really want to tell me that you would rather have Maholm on your staff rather than Greinke? Seriously? Take price out of it.
Dave Haller @HallerDave
Eckersley in ‘90: 0.61 ERA, 73.1 IP, 41 H, 9 R, 5 ER, 73 SO, 48 saves.
Rodney in ‘12: 0.61 ERA, 73.1 IP, 41 H, 9 R, 5 ER, 74 SO, 46 saves.
Trey
October 1st, 2012
11:36 am
Jeffrey, if your buddy Selig decided to have the first place WC team play the last place WC team in the playoffs, you’d support that too, wouldn’t you?
MFin04
October 1st, 2012
11:37 am
“but you can’t deny that he was the best pitcher moved at the deadline”
“Greinke has been the best starter acquired at the deadline by far.”
Yes I can. Maholm has been just as good if not better. And the Braves got Reed Johnson in the deal making that deal WAY better than the Greinke deal. Guy that mashes LH pitching on a team that can’t hit lefties. The Maholm deal is much better than the Greinke deal.
And look at the numbers no rationale person would say there is a significant difference between the two.
Greinke 13 games 3.53 ERA 1.19 WHIP 69% QS
Maholm 10 games 3.64 ERA 1.20 WHIP 70% QS
“Greinke has been the best starter acquired at the deadline by far.”
Seriously? BY FAR!?! It isn’t even close!? How is that not even close?
raleighbravefan
October 1st, 2012
11:38 am
AT @11:23 – BS (IMO). This has already been a successful year.
raleighbravefan
October 1st, 2012
11:41 am
TOBY @11:25 – You are not including the cost in prospect/players for a rental.
TheOnlyBravesFan
October 1st, 2012
11:42 am
Maholm is better. Wow. A 30 yr old soft-tossing lefty is better than a 28yr old strikeout pitcher. And yet he won’t be starting GM1 of the NLDS, which Greinke would be if the Angels had a bullpen.
Was the deal that we got better? Yes. Was it a good deal? Yes, we got JJ out the rotation and also picked up a good bench player. But you can’t convince me that Maholm is better than Greinke. Not happening.
MFin04
October 1st, 2012
11:42 am
“This has already been a successful year.”
I’d agree with that. 93+ wins is a phenomenal season. Unfortunately the stupid Wild Card rule has made that feat unimportant. Now we have to play a sub 90 win team at the end of the year to see who is “better.”
TennesseePaul
October 1st, 2012
11:43 am
_________GS_QS__ERA___IP_IP/G__WHIP_H/9_W/9_K/9__K/W
Maholm.. 10 06 3.65 61.2 6.0+ 1.200 8.5 2.3 7.4 3.19
Dempster 11 07 4.32 66.0 6.0= 1.394 9.3 3.3 9.1 2.79
Greinke. 13 08 3.53 89.1 6.2+ 1.187 8.9 2.6 7.9 3.00
TennesseePaul
October 1st, 2012
11:44 am
Unfortunately the stupid Wild Card rule has made that feat unimportant
Without that “wild card rule” this team would not be playing in October even with 93 wins.
MFin04
October 1st, 2012
11:44 am
“But you can’t convince me that Maholm is better than Greinke.”
I’m not trying to. But hopefully you are thoroughly convinced that “Greinke has been the best starter acquired at the deadline by far” is clearly a false statement. He hasn’t been “by far” better than Maholm to name one. In fact the best you could say is that they’ve been the same.
ncscoots
October 1st, 2012
11:45 am
Now we have to play a sub 90 win team at the end of the year to see who is “better.”
So what? If the Braves advance into the playoffs, teams with better records than they will have to play them to see who is “better”. What’s the difference?
Efrim
October 1st, 2012
11:45 am
Greinke is going to get seriously paid this winter. Six years, $126 million sounds about right. I’d bet the Angels give it to him.
No idea what to make of Josh Hamilton. That should be some story to follow this winter.
raleighbravefan
October 1st, 2012
11:47 am
MFin – NO ONE said they wouldn’t be disappointed. By your measure, 29 teams are FAILURES each year. I look at how we finished last year, and how we will finish this year, and call 93+ wins a success. Ask Red Sox fans.
MFin04
October 1st, 2012
11:47 am
“Without that “wild card rule” this team would not be playing in October even with 93 wins.”
Yes they would. They’d be playing the team with the best record in the NL, hopefully the Nationals. Actually strike that, they’d probably be forced to play the Reds.
TennesseePaul
October 1st, 2012
11:47 am
By the way, with 6 quality starts out of 10, Maholm has a 60% rate of quality starts.
TheOnlyBravesFan
October 1st, 2012
11:48 am
Zack Greinke last 8: 2.04 ERA, he’s 5-0, the team has gone 6-2 (both losses were BP blowups)… 57.1 IP, 50 Ks, 13 BB, 6 HR .204/.249/.330/.579
Maholm’s last 8: 4.34 ERA, he’s 3-3, Braves are 4-4…..45.2 IP, 38 Ks, 14 BB, 5 HR .268/.323/.415/.739
TennesseePaul
October 1st, 2012
11:50 am
Yes they would.
Pardon… by Wild Card rule I was referring to the existence of the Wild Card. I don’t like. Never have. But it is there so be it.
Bat Masterson
October 1st, 2012
11:50 am
Now we have to play a sub 90 win team at the end of the year to see who is “better.”
Nope. They will be playing the game to see who wins.
MFin04
October 1st, 2012
11:50 am
raleighbravefan – You’re talking to the wrong guy I think.
MikeInFl
October 1st, 2012
11:53 am
Only problem I have with the 2 wild cards is the length of the series. One game is just not adequate. Should at least have to play 3, so each team has to show a little depth in the rotation.
I think it would be feasible to play a three game series, with one day off; that would leave the division winners idle for about 4 days, which is not ideal, but no worse than the all-star break. Division winners would have a huge advantage, rested and with the rotations set, over the emerging WC winner.
Efrim
October 1st, 2012
11:53 am
Alex Rodriguez has hit .273/.356/.444 in 218 games, 942 PA’s over the last two seasons. He will make the following over the next five years: 13:$28M, 14:$25M, 15:$21M, 16:$20M, 17:$20M
Jimmy
October 1st, 2012
11:53 am
With the Wild Card game coming up on Friday, what do you think the starting rotation will look like in 2014? Discuss please.
Alot of things have to happen for us not to play Friday. I’ll just treating it like a game seven.
But like some others feel, the truth is we aren’t eliminated from the Division crown, until we are eliminated.
MFin04
October 1st, 2012
11:54 am
I like the Wild Card, I just don’t like the two wild card system. I think it thoroughly waters down the wild card in order to try and artificially create drama.
Now I think the only solution at this point is to make the Wild Card a 3-game series. But that would take away all the drama so they aren’t going to do that because they are all about the artificial drama. But it’s absolutely absurd to have a 1-game playoff when your whole season is based on 3-game series.
TennesseePaul
October 1st, 2012
11:54 am
No idea what to make of Josh Hamilton. That should be some story to follow this winter.
Yup. I wouldn’t hold back because of his history. I’d old back because his history makes him over 30 and I don’t agree with extremely long term deals for players over 30. I can understand why he’ll aim for one, and as a player I’d do the same. But as a GM, I’d be looking for a shorter deal. 3/4 years.
MFin04
October 1st, 2012
11:57 am
ESPN the Magazine has a great article on “safe” values of long-term deals of upcoming free agents. Josh Hamilton I believe was in the safe range of $20-25 million a year.
raleighbravefan
October 1st, 2012
11:57 am
I love Josh Hamilton…Great story…Bonus, he’s a Raleigh boy…But I wouldn’t touch him with a 10 foot pole…for the $$$ he will get, and ESPECIALLY for the years he will get. Way too much risk, at least for our payroll.
ncscoots
October 1st, 2012
11:57 am
by Wild Card rule I was referring to the existence of the Wild Card. I don’t like. Never have. But it is there so be it.
Exactly. If you’re letting second-place teams in, why not third-place? Whatever.
Folks are making the mistake of thinking that a second-place finish, of any sort, entitles such a team to something. I happen to disagree.
TennesseePaul
October 1st, 2012
11:57 am
I think it thoroughly waters down the wild card
Ha!
Yes. In all my rantings about the Wild Card, I neglected the angle in which the latest format compromises its very integrity!
TennesseePaul
October 1st, 2012
11:58 am
Should at least have to play 3, so each team has to show a little depth in the rotation.
This would do more to punish the Division winner than anything… sitting around for a weak while the losers fight it out isn’t a reward in baseball.
MFin04
October 1st, 2012
12:00 pm
Brave OBP
Chipper 0.377
Prado 0.359
Simmons 0.349
Bourn 0.348
Uggla 0.347
Freeman 0.344
Heyward 0.334
McCann 0.299
Might wanna reconstruct our lineup, eh?
Efrim
October 1st, 2012
12:00 pm
With the Wild Card game coming up on Friday, what do you think the starting rotation will look like in 2014? Discuss please.
I gotta say – what is there, a 85% chance we will be facing the Cardinals and Kyle Lohse on Friday in Atlanta?
Medlen is going to face the toughest lineup he has all 2nd half since he’s became a starter – we’ll see how that goes.
Lohse is has pitched well all year. Glad he is right handed. Cards bullpen hasn’t been great this year, but each of their relievers have good stuff……just hasn’t translated that well this year.
Jimmy
October 1st, 2012
12:00 pm
MikeinFl @11:53. Yes sir, that would work.
In fact, I believe that is what will happen starting in 2013. They pushed this through this year and could only afford a one gamer, schedule-wise.
I’m fairly certain that it goes to a three series next year. With the last two at the best records park. The MLBPA doesn’t like the one gamer either, but both sides wanted to add another team in 2012 and had no other option.
Murph
October 1st, 2012
12:00 pm
Alex Rodriguez has hit .273/.356/.444 in 218 games, 942 PA’s over the last two seasons. He will make the following over the next five years: 13:$28M, 14:$25M, 15:$21M, 16:$20M, 17:$20M
I love the Yankees for deals like this. Love ‘em. It’s so beyond ridiculous that it makes me smile every time I see it.
Efrim
October 1st, 2012
12:05 pm
Medlen’s opponents since shifting to the starting rotation:
Marlins, Astros, Mets, Padres, Nationals, Padres, Rockies, Mets, Nationals, Marlins, Marlins, Mets…….
Medlen did not face Giancarlo Stanton during any start vs. the Marlins.
Yes, the Cardinals will easily be his most difficult test to date.
MikeInFl
October 1st, 2012
12:06 pm
This would do more to punish the Division winner than anything… sitting around for a weak while the losers fight it out isn’t a reward in baseball.
I think you’re making a big assumption there, though I understand the thought. My guess is that if you polled the Nats, Yankees, etc., there wouldn’t be too much complaint about a few days off… but of course I’m only guessing.
But regardless, you have the same circumstance if an NL team wins its NLCS in 4 games, but the ALCS drags out for 7. With days off, that’s a longer break than I’m proposing.
Only thing that really makes sense (without going backwards, which Baseball is not going to do) is to get to four divisions, with winners in the playoffs.
MFin04
October 1st, 2012
12:09 pm
“Should at least have to play 3, so each team has to show a little depth in the rotation.
This would do more to punish the Division winner than anything… sitting around for a weak while the losers fight it out isn’t a reward in baseball.”
Ok, so make one of them a double header.
I don’t think 3 days off is going to really kill a team. Not in a 5-game series. Teams having batting cages, video simulators, etc. It may hurt hitters but it could help starting pitchers and overused bullpens so it might be a wash.
David O'Brien
October 1st, 2012
12:12 pm
Though I’d take first flight out of Atlanta today, get to Pittsburgh in time that I wouldn’t have to rush to get blog done, etc. So I take 7:30 flight, out of house at 5:30 a.m. And what happens? Our Delta flight gets diverted to Akron, Ohio, because there’s fog/rain in Pittsburgh this morning and our Delta flight didn’t have a full load of fuel because they didn’t anticipate having a holding pattern.
So we went to Akron to refuel and then waited to get a slot to land in Pittsburgh. My flight landed at same time as Bowman’s flight, which took off 1:40 later.
Niiiiiice.
monty
October 1st, 2012
12:12 pm
“Yes he is”—”no he’s not”——–”Yes he is”—”no he’s not”…….
That’s good stuff there!
UKUGA
October 1st, 2012
12:12 pm
It’s fun to complain about the play-off format, but in doing so, I think we can miss the reality that Major League Baseball is an entity that wants to maximize profit for itself and all its 30 teams. The teams compete within this entity, but cannot stand on their own outside of MLB.
I suspect that MLB has some huge financial incentives in creating drama from coast to coast, and creating a system in which every 5th team has a shot at a division championship, and is assured a play-off spot.
Is it fair to the East Coast teams? Well, it depends on what you consider fair. Is it fair to the Tigers and Royals that Detroit and Kansas City are not as significant markets as New York, Boston, or even Atlanta?
Perhaps, for the sake of fairness, the Yankees will agree to give up their market and trade places with the Royals for a few years. Then, the Yankees wouldn’t have to suffer through the gauntlet of Baltimore, Toronto and Tampa Bay every summer.
Somehwere along the lines, professional sports leagues and team owners have come to realize that there is never going to be perfect balance.
Sure, we as fans can sit here and talk about how ridiculous it is to have interleague play that pits the Mets v. Yankees for six games, while the Brewers get the Royals for 6. It isn’t fair. I don’t like it and wish it would change.
But, again, I have to believe that besides the obvious financial incentives that we can see on the front line, there is a lot of behind the scenes wrangling that sees lower- and mid-tier market teams pushing for these very things that we are citing as being unfair. The smaller market teams want the 6 division winners and the two extra wild cards. They want the Yankees and Mets facing off 6 times per year.
Not only does it (unfairly) make it tougher on the major market teams, it also generates more revenue for the league, which helps everyone.
These are the rules. It’s very exciting and I find myself intrigued by the possibilities of the final week. I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds.
Efrim
October 1st, 2012
12:12 pm
Howard Bryant @hbryant42
The all-time leaders in WAR=same list of all-time greats using the traditional, meaningless stats. It’s still the same wheel, folks.
CB
October 1st, 2012
12:13 pm
I know some might feel the season is a failure if we don’t win the play- in game. I get where they are coming from, me I remember all the great baseball we were given in Chipper’s final season. No way will I consider it a failure, only be disappointed with final game results. We just live in a time when you don’t win it all you are a loser. Pitiful thinking.
raleighbravefan
October 1st, 2012
12:13 pm
As I said earlier, if the Yankees lose a 1 game play-in WC game, the format will be changed for future years.
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
October 1st, 2012
12:18 pm
DOB—
Ugh…that’s really annoying…
BravesFanInMaine
October 1st, 2012
12:19 pm
Lets go Braves!!!! still think mlb should shorten the season a little and have more teams in the playoffs
Jimmy
October 1st, 2012
12:19 pm
Correction – The One Gamer is built into the system. The thing that changes next year is that the WildCard winner WILL NOT host the first two games of the LDS, like they will this year. It will go back to the 2-2-1 format in 2013.
And the MLBPA didn’t speak out against the format, but several players and managers did.
I was remembering incorrectly.
Thorry Thir!!
CB
October 1st, 2012
12:19 pm
DOB.I heard Bowman had to stop at Golden Corral for the breakfast buffet before he could leave.
DS1
October 1st, 2012
12:19 pm
DOB
The best laid plans……………
monty
October 1st, 2012
12:19 pm
Can’t really see starting BMAC Friday unless his shoulder has suddenly stopped hurting when he swings the bat and has some terrrific BP’s. We’ll need our best defensive catcher Friday who happens to be hitting as good if not better than McCann presently.
MFin04
October 1st, 2012
12:21 pm
“The all-time leaders in WAR=same list of all-time greats using the traditional, meaningless stats. It’s still the same wheel, folks.”
It’d be really funny if WAR was secretly based on HRs and RBIs and Pitcher Wins and they just created giant excel formulas to disguise that fact.
Choppinmama
October 1st, 2012
12:21 pm
Hello all! Don’t you hate it when life gets in the way of Braves bb and blogging?? No posting time lately, but my schedule’s clear now! I came up for Chipper’s salute night and for his last home game on Sun. Talk about a bittersweet experience. I almost broke into tears watching his salute to the fans and career review he filmed and that they showed at the games. So emotional.
Family and friends told me the commentators commented on my Fri. sign that said “Happy Trails Ol’ Hoss.” So many cute and clever signs for #10. The ajc should run a dedicated page of nothing but signage.
As nervous as I am about Fri’s game now, I’ll be a basket casket case that night!
DS1
October 1st, 2012
12:22 pm
Best way to get around all this complaining about the play in game is to just win the darned thing and get on with the rest of the playoffs.
DAP
October 1st, 2012
12:22 pm
mikeinfl Should at least have to play 3, so each team has to show a little depth in the rotation.
so being there after 162 doesnt prove depth of the rotation?
UKUGA
October 1st, 2012
12:23 pm
It’s hard to find someone to attend a game with when they don’t know what time the game starts.
Lemke's Knuckler
October 1st, 2012
12:23 pm
The Braves should end up with 95 wins. I don’t care if they’ve won the division or the wild card, a 95-win team shouldn’t have to play russian roulette in a 1-game playoff. This is just a horrible idea. I would feel the same even if the Braves and Cardinals were reversed.
MFin04
October 1st, 2012
12:24 pm
“Can’t really see starting BMAC Friday unless his shoulder has suddenly stopped hurting when he swings the bat and has some terrrific BP’s”
He apparently has been recently playing home run derby in BP with Uggla, Francisco, and Hinske (may be others as well) if I remember correctly.
MFin04
October 1st, 2012
12:26 pm
“a 95-win team shouldn’t have to play russian roulette in a 1-game playoff. This is just a horrible idea. I would feel the same even if the Braves and Cardinals were reversed.”
Agreed. The Cardinals absolutely 100% deserved the Wild Card last year. At the same time, the Braves absolutely 100% deserve the Wild Card this year.
DS1
October 1st, 2012
12:28 pm
I really don’t have any illusions of the Nationals losing 3 straight to the Phillies and us sweeping the Pirates, though it is also not outside the realm of possibility.
But just the thought of us winning 1 more game tonight and them getting behind early makes me think about how much pressure will be on them. Can’t hurt us in the long run.
We just need BOTH the Cardinals and the Nats to go into a mini slump here at the end of the season!
Efrim
October 1st, 2012
12:28 pm
I know some might feel the season is a failure if we don’t win the play- in game. I get where they are coming from, me I remember all the great baseball we were given in Chipper’s final season. No way will I consider it a failure, only be disappointed with final game results. We just live in a time when you don’t win it all you are a loser. Pitiful thinking.
Well, we are now in a time when “2nd place” means you’re subjecting yourself to a coin flip game. Where, winning any # of games doesn’t matter unless you’ve won one more than the rival team in the division. It will be interesting to see how owners, execs and fans view teams accomplishments if they continue to lose the coin flip contest. I mean, are there levels of failure?
I have a hard time considering losing Friday not some degree of a failed season. As I’ve pointed out before…. that would mean that this team averages 90 wins a season for four years in a row and played exactly ONE playoff series. I’m not sure what to call that – but it sucks for us fans.
MFin04
October 1st, 2012
12:31 pm
“I have a hard time considering losing Friday not some degree of a failed season.”
Only reason I see it as failed it because they built this team to win the Wild Card not the division. Gotta spend a little more to compete for the division. Hopefully settling for a 1-game playoff isn’t ok for the front office. It made sense to settle for the Wild Card in past years, now it is just too much of a risk.
Efrim
October 1st, 2012
12:31 pm
Averaged 90 wins a season over the course of four years, I should say.
Arkansas Transplant
October 1st, 2012
12:34 pm
raleighbravefan @ 11:38, fair enough but your success on the season is always measured by your success or lack of success in the playoffs.
DS1
October 1st, 2012
12:35 pm
Tied for third best record in baseball. Not a bad feat so far.
Frankie
October 1st, 2012
12:35 pm
I’m sure probably been discussed last couple of days regarding overall attendance. Took the family to Chipper’s big night and just a nightmare. 2 hours to get parking lot(30 miles north of field) and 45 minutes trying to get out of the lot after the game and back to the house at midnight. I know sold out and have to expect issues but when you leave the house at 4pm for a 7:30 game and barely arrive for scheduled ceremony, makes you think twice about the production of getting to Turner Field. Great field, horrific surroundings, easy to understand why people do make it a habit to attend. Getting 2.4M in attendance is actually pretty solid(although having the Yanks in town and Chipper weekend helped out)
MFin04
October 1st, 2012
12:35 pm
I don’t really care what the Nationals do or don’t do. It would be really nice for the Braves to win out the rest of their games.
jeffrey d
October 1st, 2012
12:36 pm
Jeffrey, if your buddy Selig decided to have the first place WC team play the last place WC team in the playoffs, you’d support that too, wouldn’t you?
1) How is Selig my buddy?
2) Isn’t that what they already do?
Frankie
October 1st, 2012
12:37 pm
guess should read don’t make a habit but you get my catch
Shaun
October 1st, 2012
12:37 pm
Folks are making the mistake of thinking that a second-place finish, of any sort, entitles such a team to something. I happen to disagree.
I think playing better than another team throughout 162 games should entitle the team that played better to some sort of edge in the postseason, where it’s either one-game series or five-game series or seven-game series.
Shaun – Of course, we could go back to 2 8-team leagues, with the winners meeting in the WS, and everyone else going home, if you really want to be “fair”. Life isn’t fair. Get over it, and play the games.
MLB could do that. Or MLB could just come up with a playoff system that lets in multiple teams from each league and does more to reward the teams that proved themselves over 162 games than does the current system.
Yes, I agree. No team should whine and any team playing in the one-game playoff should not complain. But I’m just talking about how to improve the game and the playoff system, not about whether a team should whine or complain. Those are separate topics.
Howard Bryant @hbryant42
The all-time leaders in WAR=same list of all-time greats using the traditional, meaningless stats. It’s still the same wheel, folks.
Is that why many of the “traditionalist” are arguing that Miguel Cabrera is the AL MVP when Mike Trout has actually been the AL MVP?
Bat Masterson
October 1st, 2012
12:38 pm
Off topic but Dexter and Homeland got of to a good start last night.
DS1
October 1st, 2012
12:40 pm
Efrim
I’ve never thought or said I wouldn’t be disappointed if we don’t advance. It’ll be a HUGE disappointment for me (and most of us here).
But I refuse to say it was a disappointing season if we don’t advance. This team has had a very good year. I have always thought it would be hard to gauge the season early on; we coulda went either way.
I’m just glad that we have had a successful season for Chipper’s last one. Now here’s to hoping we run the table. Stranger things have happened.
TheOnlyBravesFan
October 1st, 2012
12:40 pm
Thing is, despite our regular season success, there aren’t any trophies or rings handed out for that. Not 1. We won’t get a 3rd place trophy because we had the 3rd best record in baseball.
I would be disappointed if we lose in the play-in, but I wouldn’t call the season a failure though.
Tomahawkin
October 1st, 2012
12:40 pm
UKUGA
“It’s hard to find someone to attend a game with when they don’t know what time the game starts.”
Yeah Really! Its Gonna Be a Tough Traffic day in Atlanta on Friday, I hope its a 4pm start time
Venice Jim
October 1st, 2012
12:40 pm
Interesting non-sports announcement:
Wash. Post TV Team @WaPoTeamTV
Seth MacFarlane to host the Academy Awards
Shaun
October 1st, 2012
12:44 pm
This AL MVP debate shows that many of the “traditionalist” are more enslaved to stats than the “stat heads.” The argument for Cabrera is an argument for him leading in three offensive statistics. The argument for Trout is an argument for giving the MVP to the most valuable player. Being a stat head is okay as long as I’m using my stats and we’re not looking in to actual performance.
Lemke's Knuckler
October 1st, 2012
12:44 pm
If the Dodgers and Cards tie, the Cards would travel to LA for a tiebreaker on Thursday and the winner would travel to Atlanta Friday night. That tiebreaker would probably be Lohse vs.Blanton. That would leave Beckett or Lynn set up for the wild card game against the Bravos.
At the very least, I hope the Cards have to pitch Wainwright on Wednesday to clinch the wild card so we don’t have to face him Friday night.
DS1
October 1st, 2012
12:45 pm
Bat
How many hits did Dexter (Fowler) get??
Rumor has it he will be our next CF’er.
nolie
October 1st, 2012
12:46 pm
I think you’ve got to go with Ross. Not only is he hitting better than BMac lately, but he’s also throwing out runners…Murph
if the Cards start a righty, and it looks like they will, BMac will start at catcher most likely
Trey
October 1st, 2012
12:46 pm
“Isn’t that what they already do?”
No, I was referring to last place in the WC. Not the current system.
MFin04
October 1st, 2012
12:48 pm
I like our chances on Friday as long as there aren’t lefties involved.
UKUGA
October 1st, 2012
12:48 pm
Howard Bryant > Shaun
UKUGA
October 1st, 2012
12:49 pm
Would love to see the Cards have to travel to LA for a Thursday game, followed by a 3:00 PM start on Friday.
nolie
October 1st, 2012
12:49 pm
Then again, with some of you guys, winning the games doesn’t really seem to matter…phil
yeah right what you really mean is that if we don’t win we can handle our disappointment without acting out like a 12 year old entering puberty…
Bat Masterson
October 1st, 2012
12:49 pm
Wayne_
One for one.
I haven’t given any thought to next years center fielder, yet. I’m wrapped up in this season playing out as, too good to be true.
Murph
October 1st, 2012
12:50 pm
nolie!! I didn’t know you were back. How are ya feelin’?
I posted a bunch of ridiculous stuff on Friday and nobody yelled at me. I just kept thinking “I wish nolie were here…”.
Good to see ya back on the ol’ blog.
Shaun
October 1st, 2012
12:53 pm
fair enough but your success on the season is always measured by your success or lack of success in the playoffs.
This is Robert’s way of thinking. One month of games means more than 6 months of games.
Bat Masterson
October 1st, 2012
12:54 pm
Oh, that was Dexter Morgan (one for one)
Shaun
October 1st, 2012
12:54 pm
fair enough but your success on the season is always measured by your success or lack of success in the playoffs.
This is Robert’s way of thinking. One month of games means more than 6 months of games.