Deadline approaches but Braves not in all-or-nothing mindset
Chipper Jones hit a two-run homer in Monday's 11-3 win over San Francisco. But is all this too late to catch Philadelphia in the East? (Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com)
The meat of the comment sounded like a concession speech, which really wasn’t Chipper Jones’ intent. But when you play for a .500 team going into game No. 93 and the team ahead of you in first place is starting to resemble the one from last October, a sense of realism sets in.
“We’re not going to be sellers, I don’t think,” Jones said early Monday when asked about how the Braves should approach the trade deadline. “We’ve been buyers to this point, adding pieces here and there. But I think we’ve got our eyes toward next year and the year after, and whatever comes this year is gravy. I don’t mean that we’re waving the white flag this year by any means. But we got off to a relatively slow start, and the Phillies are what they are. They’re the world champs, they’re playing well right now and it’s going to be hard to catch them.”
The trade deadline is in 10 days. Depending on your level of optimism, the Braves are either in contention for the National League East, in contention for the wild-card spot or in contention for special early October fares to the Bahamas.
Do they buy, maybe giving up pitcher Javier Vazquez for another bat?
Do they sell, maybe giving up pitcher Javier Vazquez for another bat — for next April?
Does general manager Frank Wren stare at an 8×10 glossy of Yunel Escobar for several hours and hope an answer comes to him like some revelation in a burning bush (preferably before his head explodes)?
Does he do nothing of significance, which probably is the betting favorite and the smartest course of action? (It neither mortgages the future nor sends the wrong message to players and fans, given it’s a seller’s market right now.)
Wren isn’t saying what he’s going to do. I think because he doesn’t know what he’s going to do. I think because he doesn’t know how to categorize the team’s post-season hopes.
Question to Wren: buying or selling?
“There’s so many us who are still in this thing, one way or another.”
Question: OK. But buying or selling?
“We’re playing better. We feel good about the way we’re performing.”
OK. Let’s simplify this: Are you sellers?
“I don’t think we’ll be selling. I sure hope not. I mean, something drastic would have to happen for us to be selling.”
Solid pitching, improved hitting, and we still don’t know what to think. Yes – as Jones said, things look pretty good for next season. But it’s still July. Are you ready to shift your mindset to next April? Or have the past few seasons made that easier to accept?
They won again Monday — this time 11-3 over San Francisco. Suddenly they’re scoring and they’re winning (this makes eight out of 11). They’re now only 3 1/2 games behind San Francisco in the wild-card race. But that’s an eight-team scramble. Those things are iffy. In the division race, they’re still 6 1/2 games behind Philadelphia (which has won 13 of 14). Before the Braves got hot, they were only five back. Go figure.
It was early June when they shredded the blueprint. Since then, they’ve sent down Jordan Schafer, traded for Nate McLouth, called up Tommy Hanson, sent down Kelly Johnson, traded Jeff Francoeur for Ryan Church and watched Martin Prado turn into Rogers Hornsby The makeover is basically done.
Guarded optimism reigns.
“We’re not sellers – we’re not selling anything,” Bobby Cox said.
Jones said he’s encouraged.
“The lineup is better. We don’t have [easy] outs any more,” he said.
But the margin for error remains thin and the deficit in the division is growing, and Jones acknowledged, “When we play the really good teams, our margin for error is so small.”
The understanding being, they’re still not one of the really good teams and whatever comes this season is gravy. But they’re making it interesting.
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180 comments Add your comment
Charlie
July 20th, 2009
11:18 pm
Coach, You are a complete idiot. Because, as we all no, teams never ever come back from 6 1/2 game over the final two month, never happened before.
Greek Dawg
July 20th, 2009
11:20 pm
Thank you Charlie. Pass that on to Chipper.
If “EVERYBODY NEEDS PITCHING” only a numbnut (sorry,again) wants to trade pitching. We won 14 years in a row, with the holy trinity and new guys every year or two. God forbid, but we will lose someone off the mound to injury, then what do we do. There is NEVER TOO MUCH PITCHING. That’s how we won before and that’s how we will again.
Charlie
July 20th, 2009
11:20 pm
And Hudson sucks, never did live up to his salary, ship him out if we can find someone dumb enough to take him.
WindyCityDawg
July 20th, 2009
11:22 pm
Sit tight, sit tight. Huddy will be back and we can still contend for the wild card. Good young team for next year, even assuming this year doesn’t end in the playoffs.
Charlie
July 20th, 2009
11:24 pm
The only teams that trade quality pitching are teams that are out of it and looking to dump salary. You can never have too much.
Charlie
July 20th, 2009
11:26 pm
Windy City, I agree 100%, if they chase the Phillies, maybe they catch them, maybe not, but if we keep getting good pitching, we can get within reach of the wild card for sure.
Richard Gray
July 20th, 2009
11:29 pm
There’s no need to make any more moves. We have a team poised to make the playoffs. You can never have too much pitching. So what if we have one guy too many when Hudson returns? Remember, we’re all assuming Hudson is going to be 100% healthy when he comes back. Kawakami has been shaky as of late and we can benefit from a deep bullpen. Let’s take a deep breath and hope our team continues to do what they are capable of doing.
Charlie
July 20th, 2009
11:35 pm
Hudsons ERA in 2006 was 4.86, higher than every starter we have. His ERA over 07-08 was a very respectable 3.3.
However, Hanson, JJ and Javy are lower, and all 3 combined make less than he does.
No brainer.
armchair
July 20th, 2009
11:37 pm
Wren has done a good job. The Braves have one of the better staffs in the NL and seem to be coming around offensively. Pierre would be tempting–The Braves don’t have a true leadoff man and letting Furcal leave was the start of their offensive woes, but I don’t think I’d trade Vazquez to get him. He’s been stout and would have 10 wins had he gotten any run support in the first two months of the season. Leave this team alone for now and let them play.
Mitch C
July 20th, 2009
11:42 pm
I keep feeling reluctant to trade Vazquez, because right now, he is about our best starting pitcher, and, with the uncertainities surrounding Tim Hudson, I dont know if you trade a quality starting pitcher like Vazquez, with just an outside shot at making the playoffs.
The division is done. The Braves aren’t catching the Phillies. This isnt the 1991 or 1993 Braves with Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz, Avery, et al in their primes. This is a team with good pitching, and inconsistent hitting, who is scraping to finish on the better side of 500, with an outside shot at the wild card.
Let’s say we trade Vazquez: What would we get for him? Also, even if Hudson comes back, how can anyone predict his performance upon his return? What happens if he leaves? The Braves are then down two quality starting pitchers in their rotation, and are left with Lowe, Jurrgens, and Hanson, and a question mark in Kenshin. With our situation being what it is, I would keep Javy, as insurance in case Hudson leaves. You can always figure it out after the season.
Maybe I’m wrong, but this is how I see it.
Mitch
Cardog10
July 20th, 2009
11:48 pm
We would have at least a 5 game swing in the standings if we didn’t have Franceour and Schafer being those “easy outs” for most of the season. I will throw KJ in there too. I like where we are at. We could use a power first baseman, but we can live without it for now. I like our team. If this was our starting lineup on day one, we would be in first place.
Coach (2010 or Bust)
July 20th, 2009
11:50 pm
The Philadelphia Phillies are in first place by 6.5 games.
They are the defending World Champions with the best offense and defense in the NL. O yea, their pitching has posted an ERA of 2.25 during the last fourteen games.
They are the hottest baseball team on the planet.
They are the favorite to land Roy Halliday.
And yet I’m supposed to be the IDIOT who has his head up the Braves ASS, right?
OKEY DOKY!!!!
Charlie
July 20th, 2009
11:53 pm
Man, what a bunch of doom and gloomers. Phillies are tuff, but before this winning streak, they were a 500 team. I promise you, the Phillies themselves are not as sure they are going to win the division as you guys are.
rich brave
July 20th, 2009
11:55 pm
VASQUEZ goes nowhere, neither does LOWE or kawakami. ESCOBAR stays put and RYAN CHURCH has to carry the freight to the finish line in ‘09. What you see is what you get.
FJR
July 20th, 2009
11:55 pm
the Phillies aren’t the favorite to land Roy Halladay. They can’t afford vernon wells contract and really don’t have the prospects Toronto wants anyways. Just because the Phillies need him the most doesn’t make them the favorites.
And the wild card is much more likely than the division. They have to pass these giants that looked like world beaters tonight, a rockies team playing over their heads, the cubs and milwaukee. Very doable IMHO.
Charlie
July 20th, 2009
11:56 pm
14 games, how about before that? Don’t the other 80 count? Sure, if they get Halladay, that would make tilt the odds that much more against us, but why so optimistic about them? Again, you must have not watched much baseball.
Charlie
July 20th, 2009
11:57 pm
Rich Brave, AMEN.
Jeff Schultz
July 20th, 2009
11:59 pm
Chance – The Vazquez trade rumor are about pitching depth and the fact he has one year left on his contract and likely won’t be re-signed after next season.
Greek Dawk (and others) – I think there’s way too much expectation on Huddy. He’s coming off TJ surgery. If he contribute ANYTHING it’s a bonus, but I don’t think anything should be assume for this year.
Charlie – Kawakami, relative to the money he was given, was an awful move. McLouth was a terrific move but it was to compensate for a bad decision (the assumption that Schafer was ready).
Steven – Nobody’s touching Lowe in the trade market with so much $$$ left on that contract.
PTC Dawg – nothing. Love it. Especially with biscuits. Don’t even mind when it gets on my shirt.
Charlie – Nobody is going to trade for Huddy unless he shows he’s fully recovered from TJ surgery.
Charlie
July 21st, 2009
12:06 am
Jeff, I know Huddy is not getting traded, that was what I meant when I said “if they can find dumb enough to take him”….The Jury is still out on Kawakami, he is still adjusting, has shown promise, not ready to call it “Awful”. Trading Hanson for Peavy would have been Awful.
Waldo
July 21st, 2009
12:07 am
Coach (2010 or Bust), everytime I read your comments you make no sense.
You said:Right, we can never have enough pitching but then again, Lowe + Jurrjens + Vazquez + Kwakami + Hanson + Hudson = SIX starting pitchers. Somebody has to and WILL BE TRADED. PERIOD.
Excuse me. Nobody has to be traded. God forbid we trade somebody and Hudson gets hurt again, or Hansen gets hurt. Then What. You can never have too much pitching. We just simply either have a six man rotation or move Kawakami to the bullpen.
Algenis (Fron NYC)
July 21st, 2009
12:11 am
I like the way we;ve been hitting lately. Escobar in the 6th or 7th hole is a different ball player. My only concern is, Why is Bobby Cox brining in his best relivers, Soriano and Gonzo, in a blow out game? The bullpen is short-handed as it is and if you have a 7 run lead in the 7th vs the METS, bring in Logan, or Manny Acosta, or whoever else is out there. Your going to need these two down the strech, especially when we got 8 vs the Dodgers, and 9 games with the Phillies and the Marlins.
Other then that, I like this team right now and we should’nt make a move. Keep JV, and put Tim in the bullpen when he comes back, with Campillo, Bennett and hopefully Buddy.
PS KJ had 7 RBI’s and hit 2 home runs tonight
UGA 75
July 21st, 2009
12:13 am
The only thing wrong with Frank Wren is he can’t get Bobby to fire Pendleton. Andruw is hitting again, Frenchy was 3 for 4 with a HR tonight and it was a bomb. Thank goodness Pendleton doesn’t speak Spanish or none of our team could hit.
Please Fire Pendleton
Keith
July 21st, 2009
12:16 am
Wren deserves a lot of credit with the pitching staff and making moves to get Javy, keep Hanson. Bobby finally came around and benched Kelly and started Prado. This team has an outside shot to make the playoffs, but I don’t think they will. However, I think if you sell now, you lose out in the future. I really enjoy watching this team play over the last few weeks. Remember, there are a lot of head-to-head games left, and they did sweep the Phils recently…while playing well against the Cubs, Rockies (should have won 3/4), and Red Sox…all who were pretty hot before meeting the Braves.
chitownbraves
July 21st, 2009
12:27 am
I think they should go after matt holiday in either a three way deal with pitt and oakland and u never know what u can get out of pitt these days zach duke,freddy sanchez,and maybe get a veteran bat like gary sheffield or cliff floyd.Tim hudson is coming back so u can make a move for matt,remember how this kid played in that colorado push a few years ago.
Wayn-o
July 21st, 2009
12:30 am
How about an option of Lowe to a contender like Texas or Angels for prospects & bullpen help. freeing up 15 mil would be enough incentive to let him go.
Coach (2010 or Bust)
July 21st, 2009
12:39 am
In other words, what Jeff is really saying:
Hanson and Jurrjens are untouchable.
Derek Lowe is 36 with 3.5 years and about 52 million left on his contract.
Kenshin Kawakami is 34 with 2.5 years and about 16.8 million left on his three year deal.
Tim Hudson has a brand new elbow, a record of 146-77 and will be paid 12 million next season. He’s what we call an ACE pitcher.
Javier Vazquez is pitching out of his mind right now. His career record of 134-136 and 4.24 ERA says something totally different. He has 11.5 million due in 2010 and is the youngest of the trade eligible at 32.
The conclusion should be a NO-BRAINER.
Who has the best trade value right now? Vazquez.
Who has the most affordable contract? Vazquez.
Who is the least likely to sign long term with the Braves? Vazquez.
Who is the youngest? Vazquez.
Who has been durable during his entire career ? Vazquez.
Who will Frank Wren trade? Vazquez.
I mean really, It’s not that hard to figure out, now is it?
Think beyond tomorrow and just for the sake of those who cannot see the obvious. What if the Braves didn’t pick up Tim Hudson’s option for 2010 and then Vazquez takes more money to pitch elsewhere in 2011. Then what?
James
July 21st, 2009
12:42 am
I think the braves should take a look at Barry Bonds he can give them some power that they could use even if it’s just for the remainder of the season it doesn’t hurt to take a chance on him.
john d
July 21st, 2009
12:47 am
felt bad pulling against smoltz tonite. Still not over his bashing the Braves for not giving him a guaranteed contract this year.Botom line five starts 6.50 ERA
Stanco
July 21st, 2009
1:04 am
We need to do this season what we should have done a few seasons ago…..don’t give away the farm, for a player that might help a very flawed team go no where. Imagine where we would be this year if we hadn’t given away so much for sooo little. I would easily have traded a few of those division titles for a legitimate chance at a world series title.
Boribrave
July 21st, 2009
1:07 am
Why would’nt you sign Vazquez next year? He has been super. We don’t know how Huddy is going to work out. The thing with Vazquez this year is that he has had bad luck. Unfortunately we tend to let the bats at home when he’s pitching.
It would be very stupid to deal him. This team is taking shape, and we are starting to hit the ball, now that we needed.
So Jeff, I think we would be extreamly stupid to trade Vazquez. We are still in this thing, and there is no “such big bat out there for us”. Everyone is taken.
Ed
July 21st, 2009
1:52 am
More than anything right now, I’m not really looking at the rotation as it currently stands, but keeping the unit intact with the 6 guys available. The larger issue here is sitting tight and seeing where the team stands in 10 days. After 10 days, the trade deadline passes, but even then, there are no guarantees that waiver moves won’t be made and the like. The biggest issue right now is who can help in the short term, who will help long term, and which guys on the team still have minor league options that ensure that the talent currently available stays within the organization.
That said, personally, I wouldn’t trade Javy, Lowe, or Hudson. JJ isn’t going anywhere (he’s just too good), and hanson isn’t leaving any time soon either. The biggest issue is where the team is going to find a big bat who’s a tough out. How many bad teams out there (outside of Washington, who has Dunn), have bona fide cleanup hitters that are worth giving up players on the current roster or highly rated prospects for? This isn’t last season, and Manny isn’t available. I also don’t see any major market teams with anything worth sacrificing quality pitching for.
Pitching in baseball is like defense in every other sport. It wins championships. No team has won consistently without quality pitching ever. When you get into the playoffs, 2 pitchers can win a series. Heck, Hamels locked the world series up for the Phils last year. Short term fixes aren’t the answer…The Braves, as an organization, need to think smart, plan for the future, and play in the present. Getting Rollins out on a consistent basis would be nice, too…he drives that Philly offense.
laffing dice
July 21st, 2009
2:04 am
I havent read everything on this particular blog! However~ has anyone, who has “criticized” Wren,
Changed their mind? Seems to me~Wren has done an outstanding job!!!! There IS still hope for a Wild card! Thats due to Wren! Huddy will be back~ havent had him for 93 games divided by 4 or whatever~
I feel its Amazing!!! What Wren has done in Atlanta!! Just stop!! And then Think???
Say to yourself~ What trade or move has NOT worked out in Braves interest?? That Wren has made!
I’m curious to hear the responses!!!! I’m gonna save this post~as Prob will be another soon ~and repost this. I’m just curious as to ~well~ As to~ What Wren has done thats not been ~Bam~ close to perfect?
Thank you for your time~ if you read this post~
Ed
July 21st, 2009
2:34 am
The #1 reason I have for concearn right now is Huddy, honestly. Soriano and Gonzo both had issues comig back from Tommy John, and I see no reason that Hudson might not have similar issues. I’m not ready to give away a very valuable piece to a very solid rotation based on 2 innings of A ball.
laffing dice
July 21st, 2009
3:47 am
I think Braves should stand “pat” UNLESS!!!
They could get Pierre?
rocky
July 21st, 2009
5:07 am
The Braves should keep Vasquez and they should trade Lowe to someone in need of pitching with a flux of hitters.
braveUK
July 21st, 2009
5:14 am
The way the team is playing now, it is probably best to do nothing, all the bats are ok at the moment, and there is an outside chance of getting to the play-offs. Trading at August waiver deadline might be better for us, Vasquez , Lowe, KK, Gonzo, soriano may all have improved their value and the contending field of clubs might have thinned out a bit making it clearer for a couple of clubs to take the plunge to add the play-off calibre pitcher, and overpay us for one of them. If we fall out of contention we can trade pitchers for a good return, and if a bat goes cold we just about have the flexibility rearrange the outfield or the infield now, e.g prado to 1B, Conrad or KJ at 2B. I think Wren has done a great job, but he has also been lucky , all the moves that didn’t come off last winter, Furcal, Peavy etc look like they would have turned out bad if they had gone through.
Dave
July 21st, 2009
5:18 am
Starting pitching is the most valuable commodity in baseball some of you act like we have to do something now which is just plain stupid it’s value never lessens. We all know in the next year or two we will get an injection of great hitting coming our way.Yes we have six pitchers, but Huddy is coming of Tommy John surgery a few pitchers have a little age and possibility of injury. Having a little more starting pitching than we need means we have an insurance policy against injury and we have something other teams will always want to trade for starting pitching. A lot of you guys were wrong on keeping Glavine and Smoltz. A few want to trade one of our best players in Escobar which is just absolutely stupid. A lot of people here whined when we traded for Javier Vasquez which was a great trade who has real trade value. Wren stole Jair Jurgens. I think Wren has done a great job and unlike some here he knows enough to know when you have starting pitching you have money in the bank and should never make panic trades especially when our team is looking to the future more than the present.Some in our fan base has been wrong in a lot of they want Wren has been more right than most on this board have.
Space Monkey
July 21st, 2009
6:08 am
We should do nothing. Without instant outs in our lineup—and we know who they were—this is a really strong team. Maybe even a wild card team. We are only four out and taking three of four from the Giants would be a real statement.
Smooth
July 21st, 2009
6:48 am
I think Wren is doing a good job. The Braves are playing good ball and it appears our best bet is to stay as we are and let Philly cool off. Get rid of some more dead wood like Kelly Johnson, Bennett, Acosta, and Norman. I hope Frenchy enjoys the bright lights of NY, I will take Church any day over him.
hop
July 21st, 2009
6:50 am
the braves do not need to do anything at this time unless someone offers a super deal for one of our older pithers.
leave the young players along and let’s built for once around them.
kotchman is a great first basement who has not had an error all year.
to support our pitchers, we need great defense and we have it with him plus he is a solid 280-290 hitter!
trade schultz
July 21st, 2009
7:10 am
Right KJ and shaffear are ready trade them n jeff bennett for a player so that bennett can hit his hand again when he blows a game be out rest od season….and jeff hudson is trade to he never was a great pitcher why u think A’s were laughin at GM for braves when they rid…they knew hudson had bad arm…and braves best resign Vasquez to
Willy
July 21st, 2009
7:27 am
Thank you, Space Monkey. One fan has a brain.
Hawk01
July 21st, 2009
7:31 am
John Smoltz career is over I believe. He got bombed again with 5 inn., 9 hits and 6 runs against Texas last night. Good decision by the Braves to not give him 5 million. Good decision on Glavine also. Francouer may get straightened out in New York. He hit a home run last night. I think they did the right thing, for Francouer was not going to make it in Atlanta.
Falcondore
July 21st, 2009
7:43 am
Stay the course. Obviously the Wild Card is a crazy race, but we’re RIGHT in the hunt. Division is less realistic, but since our best chance is to win the wild card and we can do it with the team we have, we just have to hold on to our pieces and let them play.
The trick is going to be keeping Soriano and/or Gonzalez after this year. Both are FAs, and we’d have to do some serious replacing to fill those spots.
DHD
July 21st, 2009
7:50 am
It’s July. We’re only 4 games back in the Wild Card. In 1982, we were 3 games back with a week to go and won it. There are 10 weeks left. It’s not time to panic and sell. The offense is coming around now even with McLouth in a slump. Let’s stay the course and see what happens. We can always make waiver deals in September if we’re out of it.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
July 21st, 2009
8:02 am
We need to sell. The Braves are a average team with above average pitching and below average hitting. They have no power and no team speed. This team is .500 at best and their record proves it. In order to get over the top and be a world series contender, they need to sell. Javy V. has a lifetime 4.50 ERA and only 1 year reamining on his contract. The Braves will not resign him, therefore, we need to trade while he has some value. Because he is pitching great this year and has a year remaining, the Brave could get 2 or 3 quality prospects. If we keep him he is gone after 2010 when the Braves should start getting really good. The same goes for Gonzo, he has real value right now. Once again, the Braves could get 2 quality prospects for him. Throw in guys like Kotchman, KJ, Church, etc., if they are not in the 2 year plan then trade them. Guys like Andersen, Lowe or Hudson have no value due to injuries or contracts. As for Wren, every move he has made has worked out with the exception of not getting Furcal but that was not Wren’s fault. As for Kawakami, if over paying a guy is a screw up, then I wish the Braves had the ability to take the chance on overpaying other players.
Mike S
July 21st, 2009
8:10 am
The last thing the Braves need to do is sell the farm to trade for a bat. The acquisitions of McLouth and Church have been good ones. While niether is going to hit 30 HR, they are both Solid OFers. McClouth is a ++ leadoff hitter – Some power, some speed, and he knows how to get on base. A rotation of Church, Diaz (whi is hitting again), and Anderson (Who is showing why he is considered a second half god) is more than adquate in LF and RF.
As for needing bats off the bench – KJ is hitting in AAA, and Infante is due to be back soon. Omar will be just like getting a solid bat in a trade, if KJ has regained his stroke that is a bonus.
Pitching is set, we have one of the best rotations in baseball. If Huddy continues to perform, he is that Bullpen arm that people say we need to trade for. Why press him and maybe cause a setback by pushing him to be a starter. If he is effective in his rehab starts, he would be a perfect middle relief guy for August and September. IF Kawakami stumbles, then Huddy gets a shot at the rotation.
Lineup – SET
Rotation – SET
Bench – Infante is as good as we would get in a trade.
Bullpen – HUddy is as good as we would get in a trade.
Stand pat, this team is good enough to win the wild card.
Snowman
July 21st, 2009
8:36 am
Brownie, are you kidding me, mentioning the Tex trade as Wren’s worst? The only way you could consider that as a bad trade is if you think we’d have been better off with the draft pick (instead of Kotchman) we’d have gotten if we’d kept him and lost him to free agency. The Braves had no chance of resigning him.
Fed up
July 21st, 2009
8:37 am
I’m good with the present team effort and I would stand pat. Listen to offers since there are a number of teams out there needing pitching and see if someone is willing to knock you down with a offer but don’t trade just to trade. Please not another Tex deal for just a couple of months of use
Braves73
July 21st, 2009
8:50 am
Same article, different day. I am pretty sick and tired of the ridiculous talk of trading Vazquez and Escobar. Yunel is up and coming shortstop with so much upside that it is absolutely stupid to think that you could get equal value for him. Vazquez is currently the Braves best/most consistent pitcher (who is under contract next year) and is more than doing his job. Plus you have no idea as to how effective Hudson will be when he comes back…all this sound familar????
The Braves have a VERY good shot at the wild card spot. It really doesn’t matter if they win the division (as the Braves can certainly atest to). All that matters is that the Braves have a chance to make postseason and see what happens from there. They may have a better shot as the Wild Card (without all of the pressure/expectatios) and as history as shown any team can win it.