LIVE BLOG: Here are the scenarios for Braves’ playoff hopes
Bobby Cox climbs steps to the dugout for what he hopes isn't the last time. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
Hello. Wasn’t this supposed to be the just-sit-and-relax day?
Two days ago, the Braves arrived at the ballpark believing they had the National League wild card about wrapped up, and so did most of us. Their magic number to clinch was two. They had an upcoming series against Philadelphia, which already had the East Division wrapped up and had scratched two scheduled starters (Roy Halladay and Roy Oswalt).
The team chasing the Braves: San Diego, which was reeling and going to San Francisco for three games. This didn’t seem to be an issue.
But here we are. Two Braves losses (11-5 and 7-0) and two Padres wins later, the teams are tied and Turner Field is panic central. The Bobby Cox celebrations have been dwarfed. The Braves have the right guy on the mound today, Tim Hudson. He’ll be opposed by Cole Hamels, but for possibly only two innings. Oswalt also may pitch an inning or two.
Braves take batting practice before today's game -- and they can use it.
The Braves game starts at 1:35 p.m. If they win, they’ll clinch at least a one-game playoff. If they lose, they have to hope the Padres also lose. In either case, they must wait for the end of the Padres-Giants game, which starts at 4:05 p.m. EDT.
OK, here are the four win-lose, Braves-Padres-Giants scenarios:
♦ Braves win; Padres lose: Easy. Braves win the wild card and face the West champion Giants beginning Thursday.
♦ Braves win; Padres win: Mayhem. There is a three-way tie between all three teams and two — TWO — one-game playoffs for the first time in history. The Padres and Giants would play 0n Monday. The winner would be the division champion. The loser would come to Atlanta for a one-game playoff to determine the wild card Tuesday.
♦ Braves lose, Padres lose: Giants win the West and the Braves and Padres have a playoff Monday at Turner Field to determine the wild card.
♦ Braves lose, Padres win: Braves are out and the Padres are in as the wild card.
Here’s the optimist’s view: There’s only one out of four scenarios (Braves lose, Padres win) in which the Braves don’t play at least one more game after today.
Here’s the pessimist’s view: That’s the scenario we’ve witnessed the last two nights.
One more thing: Cox has made a significant lineup change, shifting Brooks Conrad from third base to second base and moving Omar Infante to third. Conrad’s two errors led to seven unearned runs in the first two games of this series.
That’s it for now. I’m heading down to the field for batting practice and I’ll be back up shortly. Chat with you soon.
♦♦♦
You may have missed . . .
♦ Braves lose and stretch out the drama a little longer
♦ Braves’ improbable road to playoffs almost complete
♦ Weekend Predictions: Falcons, Jackets win (Dogs? Feh)
♦♦♦
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396 comments Add your comment
Jim H
October 3rd, 2010
2:48 pm
of course, the Braves owe Charlie Manual a Christmas card for pulling the starters and making this a bullpen tune up game.
Phanatic
October 3rd, 2010
2:48 pm
The Phillies definitely want the Braves to win, Oswalt is 23 and 3 against Cincinnati and hamels is
6-0 and they both have an era under 2 against cincy. The only other team they would rather play is the Braves. the worst part is the braves will give SF a good 3 game scrimmage
miranda007
October 3rd, 2010
2:48 pm
yo you chumps need to cut out all the smack, were throwing out our worst pitchers by far…fans are celebrating like the braves are beating the champs and these stink atl payers are all hype…cut it out you losers, you arent beatin the phils
Jeff Schultz
October 3rd, 2010
2:48 pm
Oh Brooks. Brooks, Brooks, Brooks. . .
Innocent Bystander
October 3rd, 2010
2:49 pm
I’m indifferent toward that right about now. He took part in that big 4-run rally.
Kevin
October 3rd, 2010
2:49 pm
Quick get Diory Hernandez out there on defense for Conrad.
Jeff Schultz
October 3rd, 2010
2:49 pm
Brooks Conrad has an error in four straight games.
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
October 3rd, 2010
2:50 pm
Errorrad. Let’s try him in center.
Bravesfan79
October 3rd, 2010
2:50 pm
“There is a three-way tie between all three teams and two — TWO — one-game playoffs for the first time in history.”
And THAT is the reason why MLB is better than College Football !! Go Braves!
Flatsdawg1
October 3rd, 2010
2:50 pm
Oh Yes Oh Yes!!! She said when the braves scored 5!!
Joe Simpson for Manager
October 3rd, 2010
2:50 pm
Would someone please get Brooks a copy of those Tom Emanske videos.
Alex
October 3rd, 2010
2:50 pm
Nice play Brooks!
When he went to 2nd i went uh oh
Jeff Schultz
October 3rd, 2010
2:51 pm
Baez’ pitching line: 2/3 inning, 4 runs (earned), 5 hits.
OptimisticInTexas
October 3rd, 2010
2:51 pm
Jeff,
Where is Joe Thurston? Can’t he play third. Poor Conrad, but we need another glove…
Rmyklo
October 3rd, 2010
2:51 pm
The Phillies aren’t afraid of anyone, but they won’t be unhappy if Braves win … because they would then avoid Giants pitching in the short first round. Go Braves!
Jeff Schultz
October 3rd, 2010
2:51 pm
Dominic Brown will bat next for Phillies in pitcher’s spot.
Alex
October 3rd, 2010
2:51 pm
I think Conrads issues are mental by now!
He playes beautifull defense at 3rd before…remember that game vs the twins??
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
October 3rd, 2010
2:53 pm
“Brooksy”, and “Coxy”. Now the players are doing it. I am glad Coach Richt doesn’t call me. “Russy”. In fact, he doesn’t call me at all. I am a temp.
miranda007
October 3rd, 2010
2:53 pm
phanatic.. yo mayberry has to be on the team next yr, especially if werth is gone, he’ll smash lefthandin pitching, and francisco has to go, he doesnt profduce enough for the higher salary he will get next yr, we could rest dom brown against a tough lefty and bring in mayberry
Jeff Schultz
October 3rd, 2010
2:53 pm
Nice throw by Mac.
Bravesfan79
October 3rd, 2010
2:53 pm
Brooks makes a good play at 2nd to get the lead runner. Brilliant move by Cox to move Infante to 3rd. WOW what a throw by Mccan!
miranda007
October 3rd, 2010
2:54 pm
Rmyklo….exactly!! we have the best record in baseball…WHY WOULD WE BE SCARED OF ANYONE??? Tell em’ pal!!
Jeff Schultz
October 3rd, 2010
2:55 pm
Hudson has faced only 2 batters over the limit allowed 1 hit (Mayberry’s homer).
Joe Simpson for Manager
October 3rd, 2010
2:55 pm
Mac’s been watching Emanske.
nashvillebravesfan
October 3rd, 2010
2:56 pm
I am so mad i am not able to see this game because of the ridiculous contract dispute between dish network and fox!!! Go Braves!!!
miranda007
October 3rd, 2010
2:57 pm
what I want as a phillie fan is for san diego to win today along wit the braves…SF to beat SD tomorrow..then for SD to beat the braves on tuesday…then the champs get those padres
Jeff Schultz
October 3rd, 2010
2:57 pm
See ya . . .
Alex
October 3rd, 2010
2:57 pm
D LEEEEEEEE
Innocent Bystander
October 3rd, 2010
2:57 pm
oh my….
BravesTeach
October 3rd, 2010
2:58 pm
HOMERUN!!!! Get it done BRAVES!!!! Pressure tightening in the WEST!!
Innocent Bystander
October 3rd, 2010
2:58 pm
Per Chip… Every Brave who has come to bat has a hit (incl. Huddy)
gonzo
October 3rd, 2010
2:59 pm
all right all right, this is looking good. Would love to be at the Play-in game tomorrow, but would prefer the Pads to lose today and get it over with.
John
October 3rd, 2010
2:59 pm
How is the energy in the stadium today? It feels like the early 90’s watching it on tv!
Alex
October 3rd, 2010
3:00 pm
Jeff!!!!!
Do they leave the SF/SD game on the big screen for the crowd????
We all remember how we celebrated the last time they did that
Jim H
October 3rd, 2010
3:00 pm
If the Padres win later today,who would pitch Tuesday for the Braves?
Innocent Bystander
October 3rd, 2010
3:01 pm
A win today regardless means we won’t play tomorrow…
So I’d imagine they’ll all stay at the ballpark to watch the SF/SD game.
nashvillebravesfan
October 3rd, 2010
3:01 pm
ESPN’s gamecast now has the Braves 96% predicted winner; that’s what i want to see!
Alex
October 3rd, 2010
3:01 pm
JiM
i would guess it Lowe
Jamie
October 3rd, 2010
3:01 pm
I think Hudson needs to get a fastball beamed on his elbow at about 96. That will even up for him plunking Polanco (needs surgery) and Chooch (our MVP he beamed today).
GMCK
October 3rd, 2010
3:02 pm
good to see the braves score runs…
Phanatic
October 3rd, 2010
3:03 pm
Miranda, keep worth trade JRoll, salary high, injury prone last 2 years and Valdez is a very good replacement and a defensive upgrade. Power hitting, average hitting right fielders are hard to come by and werth is a good enough athlete to move to left if mayberry or brown cannot make the transition to that field (ibanez is done next year)
Innocent Bystander
October 3rd, 2010
3:03 pm
That was such a lucky play at the plate. Don’t really care – we scored that run
Alex
October 3rd, 2010
3:04 pm
This is how I love hearing the turner field!
Charlie Manuel
October 3rd, 2010
3:04 pm
BRAVES SUCK
TomahawkChokeArtists
October 3rd, 2010
3:05 pm
You know what is truly pathetic about you so called fan of the Fatlanta Chokers? Your incessant whining! Oooooo you might win 1 last game from the Phillies but for years you dopes kept saying how your the best and all you could produce is 1 title. You choked year after year. This season you had a 7 game lead in the division and you choked it away and you think your going far in the playoffs IF you make it? Pathetic. You so called fans, don’t show up for games unless it is the playoffs, you talk much about the best rotation ever but have nothing but 1 title (from the friggin Indians another loser choke city), you berate other cities fans for the same boorish behavior you do and I for one will guarentee you fat, dumb and dumber, inbred losers will once again be whining and moping soon as your dumb stupid tomahawk chokers will get their butts handed to them by whoever they play IF they do make it to the playoffs. Enjoy the choke jobs year after year.
Bobby Cox
October 3rd, 2010
3:05 pm
PHILLIES SUCK
Around The Horn
October 3rd, 2010
3:05 pm
It looks like there will be playoff baseball!
nashvillebravesfan
October 3rd, 2010
3:05 pm
I am so mad at Dish Network and FoxSportNet for not letting us paying customers watch one of the most important Braves games of the year!
Imports
October 3rd, 2010
3:06 pm
I hate imports. If I lived in Philly I would be a philly fan. Tired of carpet baggers moving to Atlanta and cheering for the team they left. What next, re-marry and still hook up with your ex wife?
Charlie Manuel
October 3rd, 2010
3:06 pm
Braves suck!!!