Forget division, Chipper says Braves can take Philly in playoffs
Martin Prado is mobbed after his game-winning hit capped Braves' comeback. (Curtis Compton)
It would have been easy for the Braves to slip on their rose-colored Annie sunglasses Sunday and proclaim that they’re going to shake the baseball world at its foundation, storm Philadelphia and miraculously come back to win the National League East title. The numbers say it’s just not going to happen.
“Let’s face it,” catcher David Ross said. “Even if we go in there and sweep them, they’ve still got like a five-game lead with 20 games left. So I don’t think they’re in any kind of panic mode.”
No. But notice the Braves also aren’t panicking? In fact, Chipper Jones would tell you they’re relishing a three-game series against the Phillies that opens Monday and he hopes the teams meet again in the postseason — because he believes the Braves can take them.
Start with this: In terms of the National League East Division race, this series doesn’t carry nearly the significance it did two months ago, when the Braves left Philly before the All-Star break trailing by only 3½ games. Since then, Philadelphia is 31-14 and has overpowered several small nations. The Braves are 7½ out — they gained a game! — after Sunday’s 4-3 comeback win over Los Angeles. They have only 23 games left to play. Division title — not happening.
But this series is not without importance. The Braves are a relative lock to win the wild card spot, and that means there’s a possibility of the teams meeting in the postseason. That scenario served as Jones’ launching pad Sunday. If he didn’t quite throw a flaming spear into the ground, he came close.
“We’re what –10 games back in the loss column?” he said before the Philly lost at Florida (which actually left the team only nine losses apart). “I think it’s safe to say the likelihood of them losing 10 games between now and then is slim. So we’ve resigned ourselves to the fact that we just want to go in and win the series. We want to play well against them. We want to sweep them. The more pressure we put on them, the better.”
Then this: “The only team that can really put any pressure on them and beat them somewhat is us. And I hope we get them head-to-head in the postseason. If we get them head-to-head, we like our chances. We’ve beaten their big three [starting pitchers Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels]. I’m not sure if any other team in baseball has beaten their big three. They’re a great ballclub, don’t get me wrong. But we’re not scared of them. It’s going to be a knock down, drag out [fight].”
The Braves can start thinking about the postseason. They’ve got an 8½ game lead over St. Louis for the wild card. (Their magic number is 15.) Even if the Braves go only 12-11 in their final 23 games, the Cardinals would need to go 20-2 just tie them. So the playoff berth is safe. (The Braves can’t play the Phillies in the first round because they’re in the same division but they could meet for the N.L. pennant.)
“I don’t think anybody is going to cry to their mom if we make it in as a wild card and not win the division,” pitcher Tim Hudson said.
The Braves have survived a blur of issues this season, most recently a decline in health and performance by their starting pitching. Still, they have gone a solid 28-19 since the All-Star break. That’s just too close to mortal to overtake the Phillies (who were 41-12 before losing the last two).
“We’ve had streaks where we’ve gone 7-1, 8-1, and not gained a game,” Dan Uggla said. “But we’re right where we want to be. Of course, we’d rather be leading the division. But we’re [25] games over .500. We’re doing all right. Our goal has just been to get into the playoffs. Then we’ll see where that goes.”
By Jeff Schultz
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166 comments Add your comment
Max
September 5th, 2011
1:25 pm
it seems like u have never played sports before . You say what u say and thats it. it’s not like he was predicting anything. Chipper is a confident guy and rightfully so.
JSS
September 5th, 2011
1:26 pm
Chipper couldn’t motivate a self mutating virus!
Max
September 5th, 2011
1:28 pm
@ JSS if a hall of famer cant motivate u then that means u r a waste to society. his credentials r elite status
Max
September 5th, 2011
1:31 pm
JSS u should try to do what Chipper has done with his career. i bet u can’t.
Max
September 5th, 2011
1:37 pm
And let’s give Freddie a break it’s his 1st season with a new team and more at steak.
Hillbilly D
September 5th, 2011
1:39 pm
If the Phillies play .500 baseball the rest of the way, which would be a reasonable assumption barring a run of catastrophic injuries, the Braves would have to go 19-4 the rest of the way to tie. Given that and the fact that the odds are the Phillies will play better than .500 ball, the chance of the Braves catching the Phillies are remote. The situation is fairly similar for the Braves and the Wild Card, so they should win that, again barring the unforeseen injury thing.
it seems like u have never played sports before .
Actually, there was time I was involved in a sport at a pretty high level (I got paid, although not much) and we always found that people were hard enough to beat without giving them further motivation. Chipper has done that with both the Phillies and the Brewers. I would imagine the Brewers probably took this as much as a slap as the Phillies would.
Max
September 5th, 2011
1:50 pm
Do u really think that those 2 teams are offended by chipper’s remake? Stop it don’t be rediculous. Chipper didn’t say they r gonna win the division. he said they can beat them in the Playoffs.
raymond
September 5th, 2011
2:32 pm
Enter your comments here
raymond
September 5th, 2011
2:33 pm
these 3 games will get rained out
BANK ON IT
raymond
September 5th, 2011
2:35 pm
team is a joke just like georgia was i hope they make the playoffs and get embarassed again on national tv
you people were high if u even thought uga was going to beat boise state
TOWN AND STATE OF LOSERS
JSS
September 5th, 2011
3:27 pm
Cap Anson and Ty Cobb are in Baseball HOF, but they couldn’t motivate anyone this side of a Klan rally to do anything. Having great stats is not a siren call to leadership. You Chipper apologist kill me. His track record since you want to bring it up in that department is abysmal aside from 1998 when he put them on his back.
Since you want to make it personal, I wasn’t the greatest track athlete in the world, I walked on to my D-1 college track team, by the time my sophomore year rolled around I had scored points in NCAA X-C and Track championships (Indoor and Outdoors) and left college as a member of 6 conference championship teams. I can still look at the track and field news and find our 4×800m time on the All-Time collegiate performances list. Screw you, and screw your IR plagued idol!
Stinger2
September 5th, 2011
3:30 pm
In his prime Chipper was a great player on the field.
He is still productive when able to play. His attempts
to be the pulse or voice of the clubhouse is questionable.
Sonny Clusters
September 5th, 2011
3:35 pm
If a deer could talk . . .
OldTimer
September 5th, 2011
3:38 pm
Mark Richt is off to a fast and furious start for his 2013 recruiting class. There was a lot of “hugging, high-fiving and picture-taking” after 2013 Newnan HS DB Tray Matthews committed on Saturday
Ted
September 5th, 2011
3:58 pm
If you are all that, then why didn’t you beat the Phillies to win your division??????
Mitchell
September 5th, 2011
4:24 pm
David
September 5th, 2011
12:23 pm
@Mitchell
I love after all your posts on here you still act like your a braves fan. The braves would be embarrassed to see someone like you cheer for their team. Your no better than a scum of the earth Mets fan.
Ouch.
Somebody needs to spend some alone time learning about contractions.
Anyway, sorry to have offended you David. I take it back.
I’m a believer baby. Go Braves!
Mitchell
September 5th, 2011
4:39 pm
Wait, no. I am a believer.
Or at least I want to believe that they will win but everytime I find myself falling for it I get burned.
We all get burned in one way or another.
I genuinely hope for the best but I’m merely bracing myself for the worst.
Seriously, I just hope we can win one game at home. That’s all I’m asking for.
Just one night where everybody can go home happy and not walking to the parking lot asking themselves why they don’t move to New York and be Yankee fans.
So, you know, go Braves. Let’s give it our best shot.
Okay.
bulldogbubba
September 5th, 2011
4:45 pm
Sonny Clusters i wish you would tell us what you really think. Will you invite Chipper for a Dilly bar if he retires?
JSS
September 5th, 2011
5:22 pm
Clusters, give the Dip (Chipper) a “Dip Cone” since he told his detractors to kiss his butt when questioned about whether he’d go without wearing out the IR again…
You know the homer sign they had behind the fence when Hank was chasing the record? Maybe we can get one of those to count his IR days the next two season!
Sonny Clusters
September 5th, 2011
5:36 pm
As predicted, Chipper is out with flu-like symptoms tonight. Cliff Lee symptoms is more like it.
Butch
September 5th, 2011
7:03 pm
Better worry about beating Arizona in the first playoff series, instead of Phils in 2nd round….remember Braves lost in first round last year against Giants
sid
September 5th, 2011
7:04 pm
just shut up and retire……what a tool.
Roy Holloday
September 5th, 2011
7:58 pm
Hey Larry errrr Chipper, worry about trying to beat the Milwaukee Brewers first. Plus, mix a salad in once in a while Larry. Your face is getting a little wide.
We’re really ascared up here in Philly.
hurtagainorsickorapansy
September 5th, 2011
8:15 pm
it’s pretty easy to talk trash when you’re out of the lineup every three days…. which happens to be the same time the other team is their ace.
LOB Braves
September 5th, 2011
8:37 pm
Tonight’s game is a good example of what will really happen in the playoffs. However, i dont think we will get past the first round.
steve brown
September 5th, 2011
8:44 pm
Chipper needs to shut up and play more. He is not the team leader, he is the aging star who can still have his moments. I really don’t think the Phillie’s needed any extra motivation, if they did, Chipper surely supplied it.
Gatorman
September 5th, 2011
8:50 pm
Based on the game tonight, Chipper’s opinion is far from reality. They can’t beat Philly in the regular season, why would he think they can in a short series? Retire, because you have surely lost your mind.
Austin
September 5th, 2011
8:58 pm
Chipper Jinxed the Braves!
JSS
September 5th, 2011
9:09 pm
And where is fearless leader, the great motivator of men? There better be pictures of him throwing up on the Jumbotron!
jek
September 5th, 2011
9:23 pm
The division matters. If you don’t win, then you are losers. To win championships you have to be able to impose your will on the other guy, and the Braves just don’t do that.
iTiSi
September 5th, 2011
9:29 pm
The Braves are not only embarrasing themselves but the city of Atlanta and the entire state of GA. Yessiree, they are really showing the Phillies what they are made of. Hear the fans in Philly doing a “mock” version of The Chop now in the 8th inning. Pathetic wimps!!!!
Herschel Talker
September 5th, 2011
9:37 pm
SOMEONE NEEDS TO TELL CHIPPER TO SHUT HIS FAT, REDNECK MOUTH. WHEN WILL THESE IDIOTS LEARN NOT TO GIVE THE OPPONENT BULLETIN BOARD MATERIAL. WHAT A CLOWN.
Jerry
September 5th, 2011
9:54 pm
Yep chipper you guys sure showed them tonight. Stupid dumb jock.
You won’t even get past the brewers with your pathetic offense and pitching.
Where's Da Honesty ?
September 5th, 2011
9:57 pm
Did Chipper watch the Braves lose today 9-0 like we did ? That’s what you can expect in the playoffs. Chipper’s been smokin….
Roy Halladay
September 5th, 2011
9:59 pm
I tried reading what Chipper said today but I couldn’t finish it I was laughing so hard ! Chipper’s a comedian. Assuming he plays a game I pitch in the playoffs, I’ll strike him out 4 times. I promise.
Butch
September 5th, 2011
10:21 pm
Phillies with Lee, Halladay, Hamels and Oswalt will surely beat the Braves if they even play in the playoffs.
Cliffy Lee
September 5th, 2011
10:29 pm
We beat your team 9-0 and Chipper says he thinks they can take us in the playoffs. That’s like the deer Chipper killed last year saying “I’ll take you on the way home from the back of the truck,dead….”
LoweGoAway
September 5th, 2011
10:37 pm
Another fine outing by Lowe; don’t you agree? He is pathetic, and FG is patheic for starting him and leaving him in to drown in his own clumsiness. The Braves really looked like contenders tonight.
Austin
September 5th, 2011
10:37 pm
Braves are DONE! I’m a Braves fan and I hate to say it but the Phillies are just way better than us it is what it is.
LoweGoAway
September 5th, 2011
10:39 pm
Shut Out!!
seouleagle
September 5th, 2011
11:39 pm
So Chipper said those words, eh? Last two games against the Phillies (Hamels in the game before All-Star break and tonight Lee) have been outscored 23 – 2. It is not looking good. If Phillies take one of the next two, and win series, it will show the proof is in the pudding and the Phillies are the better team. We have faced injuries on the Phillies just as much as the Braves, so that cannot be an excuse.
jim
September 6th, 2011
1:11 am
Jeff,
Ask Chipper what he thinks about the Brewers. That is who the Braves will probably play in the 1st round and they are playing like the best team in the NL right now. I don’t care about the Phillies until we meet in the 2nd round. (if both teams get there)
Sid Bream
September 6th, 2011
1:29 am
Good call Chipper. 9-0 Phillies. These guys can be had! And after pasting you gave Cliff Lee, you can do the same to Halladay and Hamels. Piece of cake.
And after calling out the Brewers, these Braves can expect another first round exit. The streak will stay alive, no post season series wins since 2001.
Joseph
September 6th, 2011
2:13 am
I seem to remember people having the same thoughts of a Philly showdown last year too. — the Phillies made it to the NLCS… the Braves, not so much
Kyle
September 6th, 2011
5:42 am
I think last night showed this team is a single A team compared to the Phillies. First round and out.
HAWKLESS
September 6th, 2011
7:55 am
It’s amazing that chipper has the biggest paycheck with the braves and miss the most games because of minor aches and pains. He does not lead by example. Last night against the Phillies he did not play in one of the biggest games of the season because of flu like symptom.
RMikel58
September 6th, 2011
8:02 am
Chipper better worry about making the playoffs 1st. I commented back a month ago that Philly would beat the Braves by 10 games and that the Braves would end up in 3rd place behind Florida.
Also that if the Braves we’re to get in it woiuld be as a wildcard and overtaking Philly because they were about to get back their starters.
Atlanta cant even match their hitters and certainly not their starting pitchers and i got blasted by the arrogant fans here.
Jurrgens has had a bad second half and Lowe is a no show. Dont count your chickens yet based on history folks cause these arent the same Braves as before.
Make the wild card and lets see but dont start making announcements about predictions which only adds fuel to the fire and gives your opponents more determination to beat ya.
Give Philly respect because their the top team in baseball right now and you still got one more month of baseball to play before you start making predictions Chipper.
You have your own problems just beating the Dodgers and Washington and Milwaukee then add Philly to the mix and what ya have is a short series for the Braves.
Chopisdumb
September 6th, 2011
8:29 am
Brewcrew will end Braves’ season. Oh yeah, and get rid of that dumb chop thing that FSU does. It’s just dumb, but funny when Phils fans did it last night en route to 9-0 drubbing.
Nick
September 6th, 2011
9:09 am
I don’t know who’s more in denial – Chipper or this lame beat writer. This TJ Simers guy hasn’t gotten anything right in the past 3 years. Bottom line is the Braves are nowhere near in the class of the Phillies. Last night showed that the Phils are in prime post-season mode and the Braves are not ready for the challenge. Just retire Chipper, you were a great player but you’re a terrible baseball prognosticator. The Phillies will win the World Series this year.
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