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
Jamie
October 3rd, 2010
3:06 pm
Manuel is going to pull his starters soon. If this stays a rout no need to get anyone hurt. Then have Romero come in and beam that plunk Hudson in the neck.
Bobby Cox
October 3rd, 2010
3:06 pm
PHILLIES SUCK!!!!!
Jim H
October 3rd, 2010
3:06 pm
going to be alot of extra people rooting for the Giants this afternoon.
Charlie Manuel
October 3rd, 2010
3:07 pm
BRAVES SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!
Bobby Cox
October 3rd, 2010
3:07 pm
PHILLY SUCKS!!!!!
Charlie Manuel
October 3rd, 2010
3:08 pm
THE BRAVES SUCK!!!!!!!!!!
Bobby Cox
October 3rd, 2010
3:08 pm
PHILADELPHIA SUCKS!!!!!
bostonbravo
October 3rd, 2010
3:09 pm
VICTORY assured!
McClouth ‘the curse’ not in lineup!!
wardenerd
October 3rd, 2010
3:09 pm
Its the last day of the regular season and we are still in it. thanks Braves I remember the 70’s and the 80’s. good bye Bobby I still blame you for 96 but you done good too!
Bruce Bochey
October 3rd, 2010
3:09 pm
I’m going to let the Padres win today.
Bud Black
October 3rd, 2010
3:10 pm
GIANTS SUCK!
Phanatic
October 3rd, 2010
3:11 pm
Philly and Atlanta will be rooting for San Fran. Cincy will be rooting for San Diego, If San Fran wins they get lucky and get to play the braves and cincy does not want to play the phillies
Alex
October 3rd, 2010
3:11 pm
LEAVE THE SF/SD GAME ON THE BIG BOARD!!!
MLB NETWORK SPOKESPERSON
October 3rd, 2010
3:13 pm
SAN DIEGO AND SAN FRANCISCO CAN BE SEEN ON MLB NETWORK
Rmyklo
October 3rd, 2010
3:13 pm
Phanatic … why would Phillies root for SF? Better that Pods win, forcing two back to back elimination games. Everyone’s pitching staff would be a wreck going into a short series.
Phanatic
October 3rd, 2010
3:14 pm
Our pitching owns Cincinnati
Phredd
October 3rd, 2010
3:15 pm
never quit!
wardenerd
October 3rd, 2010
3:15 pm
to tomahawkchoke you fing ahole the phillies had the worst swoon in baseball history with a 11 game lead with 15 to play and lost. you have a dog killer for a quarterback and you want to talk about atlanta!!!!
Jeff Schultz
October 3rd, 2010
3:16 pm
For those who’ve asked, I just checked with a Braves official and he thinks it’s more likely that a Tuesday game against the Padres or Giants would be a night game. Obviously if the Braves hold on and win this, they’re definitely off tomorrow and will either play as wild card Thursday or a 1-game playoff at home Tuesday.
Innocent Bystander
October 3rd, 2010
3:16 pm
Philly will be rooting for SD.
If SD wins, that forces SF, SD and ATL to all play an extra game. If SD/SF take the WC, then they’d play Philly after having played 2 extra games (Mon, Tues, then start NLDS Wed).
Phanatic
October 3rd, 2010
3:17 pm
Forget I said that,,,,,lets just skip all this stupid playoff stuff and just bring on Minnesota or the Rays to Philly and start what is going to be inevitable
Jeff Schultz
October 3rd, 2010
3:17 pm
Alex — REO Speedwagon is performing after the game. Something on video board will have Padres-Giants updates, I’m sure.
Jeff Schultz
October 3rd, 2010
3:18 pm
Jim H — Derek Lowe.
heartofdarkness
October 3rd, 2010
3:19 pm
Job well done, Schultz. Could you head over to the Dome and give Bradley a little assist?
Innocent Bystander
October 3rd, 2010
3:23 pm
I’m feeling a little better now, esp if SF can win. Then we’d match up with them in the NLDS, and SD has shown that they are very beatable.
TTTT-Thumbody Thed Thats Thupid!
October 3rd, 2010
3:27 pm
NashvileBravesFan, I am in Nashville too. You need to switch to DirecTV. Been with them since 05 and have never had that problem, or any problem as a matter of fact. DishTV is a basement dweller just like cable. DTV even gave me a nice 5 yr. bonus this year.
Phredd
October 3rd, 2010
3:28 pm
i love how Phillies fans assume a WS appearance. I understand it though, Philly is a bandwagon city. When they are eliminated before the WS, everyone will jump ship
BravesTeach
October 3rd, 2010
3:28 pm
J-Hey just lived out a little boy’s dream having grown up in the metro in the 1990s.
Jeff Schultz
October 3rd, 2010
3:29 pm
Heartofdarkness — Hah. No, I think I’ll stay right here.
shakespeare
October 3rd, 2010
3:30 pm
does anyone have a link to watch the giants/padres game?
TTTT-Thumbody Thed Thats Thupid!
October 3rd, 2010
3:31 pm
JS, nice to know I was right AGAIN! I said last week if here was a one game playoff it would be on Tues, not Mon. because of a travel day for SD, or even SF. Just common sense and logic when you don’t start until Thurs.
Jeff Schultz
October 3rd, 2010
3:32 pm
Thumbody — the only reason the game would be Tuesday is because Padres/Giants would be playing the first playoff on Monday,
Eric
October 3rd, 2010
3:34 pm
Scenario question: If all 3 teams have identical records, Giants/Padres play 1 game to determine division champ. Isn’t that a regular season game? Loser of that game would be 1/2 game behind Braves. Wouldn’t they be eliminated?
Alex
October 3rd, 2010
3:37 pm
U never have enough runs vs these guys!
CmmoN!
Jeff Schultz
October 3rd, 2010
3:39 pm
Guessing this will be Hudson’s last inning. Last pitch was No. 98.
rc35
October 3rd, 2010
3:40 pm
Couldn’t he have left Diaz in there a little longer? I mean, McLouth hasn’t exactly been a defensive gem in left, and I’d rather have Diaz’ bat in there, just in case…
Herschel Talker
October 3rd, 2010
3:40 pm
Eric at 3:34:
Why do you think game #163 would be a “regular season game”? That makes no sense.
HT
TTTT-Thumbody Thed Thats Thupid!
October 3rd, 2010
3:41 pm
JS, are you sure that if there is just a one game playoff for WC beween SD/ATL, it would not be on Tues., giving he West coast team a travel day for Mon. and Wed. ????? That would make more sense, and I did hear that somewhere.
Leroy
October 3rd, 2010
3:41 pm
If the Braves lose, Cox will be out as manager…..
nashvillebravesfan
October 3rd, 2010
3:41 pm
please bobby let venters have a day off, his arm is about to fall off…it should be kimbrell in the 8th and wags in the 9th…game over!
nashvillebravesfan
October 3rd, 2010
3:46 pm
the braves have this one in the bag, back to the Titans game
TTTT-Thumbody Thed Thats Thupid!
October 3rd, 2010
3:47 pm
Here’s hoping and praying Kimbrel comes in for the 8th and not Venters. BC has been putting him in at the wrong time, even those he has 38 strikeouts in 20 innings. He has that “IT” factor and will be a great closer one day.
Smokey
October 3rd, 2010
3:55 pm
The Braves have this one in the bag? No lead is safe against the Phillies….
DurhamNCBravesFanatic
October 3rd, 2010
3:56 pm
oops, it’s Venters.
Thomas
October 3rd, 2010
3:56 pm
Where do I get ticktes for Tuesday’s game if there is one? and would it be a night game?
shakespeare
October 3rd, 2010
3:58 pm
anyone have a link to watch the giants/padres game?
TTTT-Thumbody Thed Thats Thupid!
October 3rd, 2010
4:02 pm
As I said Mr. Cox, bring in Kimbrel in the 8th and not Venters! HARDHEAD!
DurhamNCBravesFanatic
October 3rd, 2010
4:03 pm
Wags on to get 4 outs; fingers crossed.
Innocent Bystander
October 3rd, 2010
4:06 pm
just get em out please billy
Jeff Schultz
October 3rd, 2010
4:07 pm
How about the Phillies — hitting for both Utley and Howard.