Comments on: Braves’ playoff chances only ‘cool,’ according to website

By: Braves' story: WC stands for wild card and woulda-coulda | Jeff Schultz

Braves' story: WC stands for wild card and woulda-coulda | Jeff Schultz — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:56:02 +0000

[...] THE ODDS: According to CoolStandings.com, which I blogged about last month , the Braves have a 12.4 percent chance of winning the wild card. The website, which factors in [...]

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:52:08 +0000

“Never tell me the odds” – Han Solo

By: Bravid

Bravid — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:23:24 +0000

It wasn’t that long ago when the Braves were 7 games below 500. Ever since we got rid of Frenchy and acquired Nate & Church, everyone in baseball has noticed the difference in the Braves. They’ve scored 190 runs since the allstar break, which is first in the NL. They’ve had injuries through out the season, and stayed close. As resent as 2 weeks ago, the Braves were as close as 4.5 games of the Phillies. The Braves don’t have the power that the Phillies possess, but we have contact hitters that hit for average & starting pitching that the Phillies just don’t have. Once Chipper gets his groove back (& he will) & Prado, Nate, Church, Anderson get healthy (& they will) I still see the Braves making it real close with the Phillies. All the Braves have to do is sweep the Phillies, & take 2 of 3 from the Padres & they’ll pick up 3 games on them. By September 1st the braves can be between 4.5 to 3.5 games back in the division. They have to start winning the first game of a series instead of loosing the first game & then to come back & win 2 straight. Sweeps have to be the modow, & there good enough to do it to. There’s just something, I don’t know what it is but it’s like the Braves have some type of destiny that will take them far this year.

By: ..and Russ Nixon is gonna go with Ed Olwine!

..and Russ Nixon is gonna go with Ed Olwine! — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:57:22 +0000

Everyone wants to get rid of Norton but if they did there would be another Norton. He is in the long line of Bobby’s fishin buddies that he refuses to give up on. Jeff Treadway, Bryan Hunter, Wes Helms, Tommy Gregg, Lonnie Smith, Danny Bautista, Gerald Williams, Keith Lockhart, Julio Franco. Brian Jordan. There is always one on every team.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:35:01 +0000

Hey a 1 in 4 chance sounds about right to me. If we were tied with anybody, then maybe you could say it was 50-50 or something like that. But hey, call me crazy, but I think the team we need to start chasing is the Los Angeles Dodgers if Colorado keeps winning.

By: Brett

Brett — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:25:05 +0000

Another similar website, that actually uses how individual players are projected to perform, has the Braves chances at about 32% (11% to win division, 21% to win wildcard). So take these things for what they’re worth.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/statistics/ps_oddspec.php

By: who cares

who cares — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:02:43 +0000

22% chance of making the playoffs seems high to me. It should be 0% chance. As long as Bobby Cox is the manager, this team will never make the playoffs again. His loyalty with players like Kelly Johnson, and Norton is the reason this team isn’t going anywhere. These guys clearly don’t have major league talent, yet Cox continues to play them, and they continue to fail in clutch situations every game. That coupled with the fact that the braves #1 starter has blown leads in two consecutive starts of 4-0, and 3-0. Your #1 starter should be your stopper in the stretch run for the playoffs, and this guy is pathetic. He is the weak link to the starting pitching staff now. It is only a matter of time before Cox puts his loyalty to the test again with the return of Hudson. Hudson is another #1 starter that never produced in the clutch. The way he is getting shelled in Richmond is a clear indication that he isn’t where he needs to be, and the best thing for him is to wait until next year. But watch Cox put him in the starting rotation and ruin the 22% chance the Braves have of making the playoffs.

By: Sutton's 'Fro

Sutton's 'Fro — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:59:25 +0000

DHD…Javy Vazquez leads the league in sacrifice bunts; that’s why he’s used as a pinch hitter. While I agree the bench needs help, using Vazquez is not an indicator of weakness. He’s just really good at laying a bunt down. :;):

By: nique

nique — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:37:32 +0000

thank you for the disclaimer at the beginning, i wish i would have heeded your warning. did not find this particularly interesting.

By: 37YrBravesFan

37YrBravesFan — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:36:12 +0000

Stats can be made to say anything. The MIT folks are interesting, but not necessarily relevant in my opinion. I also think the WC will be where the Braves land in the play offs if they do. I’m still thinking next year is the year…

GO BRAVES!!