Braves collapsing, may need another last-day miracle
Dan Uggla consoles closer Craig Kimbrel after the Braves blew a game to Florida.
As much as last season was filled with positive memories for the Braves, their preference was that this year not turn into a repeat.
They didn’t want to have to scramble again to make it in as a wild card. They didn’t want their postseason chances to come down to the final series of the regular season again. They didn’t want to be in a position of having to beat Philadelphia, the best team in baseball, in game No. 162 to make the playoffs. But it may come to that.
The Braves lost at Florida 6-5 Monday night. This time, Omar Infante hit a two-run homer off suddenly fallible closer Craig Kimbrel, as the Braves lost for the eighth time in 11 games. Their National League wild card lead is down to 2½ games lead over St. Louis and 3½ over San Francisco — neither of whom are falling apart like Atlanta (numbers below).
Much like last season, the Braves are dropping engine parts down the stretch and all of those postseason ticket ads that have been running on radio and television seem a tad premature. I’ll have more on this in a column Tuesday.
But here are your wild card essentials.
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First, the standings, showing the records of the three teams in September and since the All-Star break:
Team Record GB Sept AS break Atlanta 87-67 – 7-12 33-29 St. Louis 84-69 2.5 12-5 35-26 San Fran. 83-70 3.5 11-5 31-30•
Here are the remaining schedules:
• Braves (8): 2 at Florida, 3 at Washington, 3 vs. Philadelphia. • Cardinals (9): 3 vs. New York (N) 3 vs. Chicago (N), 3 at Houston. • Giants (9): 3 at Los Angeles (N), 3 at Arizona, 3 vs. Colorado.•
Last season, the Braves were 23 games over .500 (78-55) and held a three-game lead over Philadelphia on Sept. 1. But they lost five of their next six and nine of their next 14 and needed a final-day, 6-5 victory over the Phillies, in combination with a San Diego loss to San Francisco, to reach the postseason. (That was after losing the first two games of the Phillies series, 11-5 and 7-0.)
It’s not a great situation. But the loss of starters Jair Jurrjens and Tommy Hansen, along with a dreadful decline by Derek Lowe, has wrecked the starting rotation, and one of the the ripple effects has been an overworked bullpen.
The Braves remain in a good position. But they certainly don’t look like a playoff team, and if they can’t close this thing out in the next five games against the Marlins and Nationals, then it’s going to come down to the last three against the Phillies. And that’s not what they wanted.
By Jeff Schultz
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185 comments Add your comment
Bobby Coccyx
September 20th, 2011
8:49 am
They’re all good kids
Lou Baseball Fan
September 20th, 2011
8:49 am
Years ago in the middle of the great years with Bobby, an ESPN analyst said “The Braves are a team built to get you to the playoffs but not to win it all.” I really didn’t know what he was talking about but now understand his coimments and they turn out to be spot on.
Ted Abernathy
September 20th, 2011
8:52 am
A train wreck. Even if they manage to limp into the palyoffs, it willbe because of their record in July, not the way they are playing in September.
The Joker...
September 20th, 2011
8:53 am
How is it that Chipper can bend down to catch a hooters chick in his glove, but cannot catch a routine groundball? I don’t understand…….
Dumbo
September 20th, 2011
8:58 am
Well, here we are…the Braves are doing the slow fall out of the playoffs and why….maybe the brilliant manager overused his 3 best pitchers in the bullpin. Why are the Braves the only winning team with 3 relief pitchers in top 5 in innings worked in relief and not a single starter in the top 10 innings pitched. Think maybe the brilliant manager pulled his starters way to early and thus overused his bullpin to the extent of exhaustion. Hey Fredi….you’ve toasted your own team…bozo.
BirdDawg24
September 20th, 2011
9:03 am
aahhhh. are all the braves bandwagon jumpers jumping ship ? you guys sound like randy quaid in the major league movie.” the braves are done ! lol,, fair weather fans, and everybody knows how to fix it. maybe we should have ” pick a braves coach for a day off the AJC blog.” i bet the braves would win every game then…….hmmm.
Steve
September 20th, 2011
9:05 am
FREDI GONZALEZ=BOBBY COX=LOSERS
flagger
September 20th, 2011
9:10 am
just maybe u get uggla out of cleanup and put him where he can hit his homers with no one on base and not strike out everytime he has a chance to drive in runs, i bet he has left more runners on base than anyone in baseball……so there!!!
Ramblinwreck83
September 20th, 2011
9:11 am
A bunch of chokers!
Cecil34
September 20th, 2011
9:14 am
Keep reading those “quotes” folks, that DOB puts up after very game.
What keen insight to the player’s minds that drivel is…..
Dawg Trainer
September 20th, 2011
9:16 am
Watching the Braves choke this away, all I can do is listen to Johnny Cash singing ‘Folsom Prison Blues’. But if the Man in Black was still around, it’ll go something like this:
I see the Cards a comin’
They’re playing good baseball,
And my poor Braves a chokin’, not playin’ well at all,
And that wild card is slipping, slip, slip, sliding away
Oh, when September’s over, my Braves won’t play, no way
When I was just a baby, my daddy told me, Bart
Don’t believe in Bravos, they’ll only break your heart
But here we are this summer, just to watch them fold
Yeah we saw this thing a comin’, but this just gets old
BirdDawg24
September 20th, 2011
9:16 am
congratulations flagger u are ” coach for the hour. ‘ I feel better already so there…..
loserville
September 20th, 2011
9:18 am
another choke on the way by an atlanta sports team—it never ends. There must be a curse on the city by a higher power.
BLew
September 20th, 2011
9:20 am
Braves playing poorly over a month-long stretch? Must be September…
Bill Clinton
September 20th, 2011
9:23 am
Sad. Even if they make it into the playoffs, they are playing their worst ball of the year. I doubt they can beat Milwaukee or Zona. Too bad, were playing great for a while. Same ole, same ole.
Braves All the Way
September 20th, 2011
9:24 am
Geez…instead of being excited about going to the post season games, now I’m wondering if I’ll get my money back on those tickets I bought. I feel like I just invested in Enron…
DetroitBraves
September 20th, 2011
9:32 am
Getting past the emotional downer this team has become, Coolstandings still has the playoff odds at about 78% so as MB and JS have pointed out, the numbers are in their favor for getting into the field. Still, the odds were around 96% just around a week or so ago so 78% today isn’t exactly cause for celebration. And like others here have pointed out, yeah they still stand a decent chance of getting in but I don’t have much confidence once there. Yeah, MB points out the Giants limped in last year and won but they had Lincecum and Cain while the Braves are still missing Hanson and Jurrjens. But baseball’s a weird game. We’ll see.
KZGuy
September 20th, 2011
9:43 am
What do you expect? If the Braves had a 180 Million payroll like the Phils maybe we could could afford some hitters to go with a good bullpen and average starters. All they have to do is more than double their current payroll. Baseball is a joke. The combined salaries of the Phils starters make more money than several teams entire payroll. It’s like Coastal Carolina being part of the SEC. How can a team with a 45M payroll compete with a team that spends over 200M yearly?
KME
September 20th, 2011
9:44 am
Hershel Talker?! You think that the STL Cards have a “joke schedule”?! Think again, BUD! A team that is no longer in the playoffs can crucify the h*ll out of some team that is still in it! Do not think that the Mets, Arizona or any team out there is a “cakewalk”. you are furtherest from the truth! All in all…with games like last night…the error that Chipper made at third…you cannot make these down the stretch! The Braves want this thing, LOCKED UP…B-E-F-O-R-E playing the Phillies. If they are 3 games, like they are here…in front…with Philly coming to town…this all will go up in smoke. Derek Lowe will be tossed from this team…for sure. I can feel it. He has not had good numbers all year…coming even from last season. We need to get back to a good rotation…back to the days of Smoltzie, Glavine, Maddux…those guys. We need a rotation that is solid…and to let up on the pressure of the bullpen. More consistencies is needed, that is for sure. the coaching staff is good…the pitchers…not so.
eastbound and down
September 20th, 2011
9:47 am
wow. and i thought after reading one of your earlier posts the braves were going to catch the phillies. glad u are not a financial advisor.
Colin
September 20th, 2011
9:48 am
This team is soft. Even if they do manage to sneak into the postseason, does anyone really expect anything more than another first round exit? At least this time they are giving the fans a break by letting them down in the regular season as opposed to waiting for the playoffs to begin their usual collapse. It’s time for fans to turn their attention to football (though in fairness, the Falcons appear to have caught the postseason collapse disease as well).
JMac2011
September 20th, 2011
9:55 am
Told you 3 weeks ago that the Cardinals had the better chance for the wildcard, but I got called an idiot. 2 back on the loss side, 5-1 against the Braves, and 6-3 against the Phillies. Who is the idiot now!! Braves are a weak hitting team that lived as long as they could with an overachieving rotation. Anyone who knows anything about baseball should have been able to see that several months ago.
Won 14 straight!
September 20th, 2011
9:55 am
Da Braves, Da Fal-cant’s, Da Hawks= Loserville Georgia………Former Prison Colony….16th Century, figures……..
153 seasons combines, 1 lone Champiomship(95 braves/lucked out!)
Dandy Randy
September 20th, 2011
9:55 am
Why are we so spit n’ polish eager to see the Braves in the playoffs? We all know what the outcome would be. This isn’t ‘91.
STRETCH
September 20th, 2011
9:56 am
Still trying to understand this team. This franchise. Once again they are doing what they do best and its coming a little earlier this time.
aj
September 20th, 2011
10:00 am
Did you really expect anything different from braves?? They would fall on their face in 1st series of palyoffs anyhow. Biggest underachiving franchise in professional sports!!!
chief pitchanono
September 20th, 2011
10:02 am
Well its come to this, the Cards and the Giants are gonna make sure no one limps into the playoffs. Thats how it should be, the wildcard is for the team that is the hottest down the stretch (or at least luke warm) and that is normally the team that wins it. The Vets on this team have to pull the young guys together and make sure they are focused on nothing but the eight games that lie ahead. The attitude needs to be that there playoffs start now. Whatever happens over the next eight games will determine there season and everything in the past including the 2.5 game lead has to be forgotten. No scoreboard watching, no listening to the media talk about epic collapeses or blown leads. In reality they have not won anything so therefore they have nothing to lose. Its simply an eight game race to the finish between them and the Cards and Giants. Clear there heads and just play baseball. May the best team win. Go Braves!!!!
NativeAtl
September 20th, 2011
10:05 am
Braves have been spiraling out of control for this whole month and prior. The Cardinals have been the exact opposite. Cardinals have the way easier schedule here on out. We get the Phillies for the last three. I will bet the house that the Braves do not make the playoffs.
Brad
September 20th, 2011
10:07 am
I do not see a lot of hustle in this Brave team. When a ground ball is hit, watch the casual stroll to first base as the “runner” thinks it is an out. Where is Pete Rose who could show the Braves how to hustle?Prado has to really dig in at the plate to take that first strike down the middle of the plate. Then he is in position to swing at the pitches he can`t hit. Unfortunately that rubs off on Uggly and Freeman.
Destiny Calling
September 20th, 2011
10:09 am
1964 Cards 11 games out on Aug. 24, went 28-11 to win the pennant.
1942 Cards 10 games out on Aug. 5, went 44-9 to win pennant.
1930 Cards 12 games out on Aug. 9, went 39-10 to win pennant.
2011 Cards 10 games out on Sept. 1st. Now 2 1/2 out on Sept. 20th
STRETCH
September 20th, 2011
10:11 am
JMac2011,
Thats what ive been saying! These guys cant hit w/RISP and the numbers dont lie. Now the pitching is going south and they are being exposed. So, Atlanta…do you really wanna see this team in the post-season?
Lick wounds this season. Next season some things needed:
1. Pick up a legit Left fielder. Prado is ok, but not quiet the man.
2. Sign Bourn.
3. Better pitching management needs to be the focus at the start of spring training.
4. Lowe needs to Gowe!!!!
It's Over
September 20th, 2011
10:25 am
Jeff, you’re absolutely wrong about the Brave-less needing another last-day miracle…they will have officially been overtaken and elimated by then. These guys are officially done. At least we wont have to watch yet another post-season vanishing act this year – getting it done early.
ghostwriter
September 20th, 2011
10:25 am
I’m going to take the flipside of what most people here are writing.
We have more than enough talent to take these next two games and then sweep Washington. Then we can easily win at least one game in Philadelphia. As long as we don’t get swept or lose all of the next series, I think we’ll be fine.
Come on, fans, where’s the faith? Don’t be fair weather.
CardsFan
September 20th, 2011
10:30 am
Don’t worry Braves fans. The Phillies are going to hand you the last series so they get to play you in the playoffs rather than the Cardinals who just beat the snot out of them. Even if the Cards and Giants keep up their frenetic pace, the Phillies’ gift will get you in.
PMC
September 20th, 2011
10:31 am
Jair Jurrjens and Tommy Hanson may never make it through a season healthy.
Derrick Lowe is just old and massively overpaid for what he is.
PMC
September 20th, 2011
10:32 am
They should be destroying the Marlins. Instead…… same old.
seabass
September 20th, 2011
10:37 am
Let it happen! They always collapse at the end of the season. I can’t watch anymore, last night done me in.
Doug
September 20th, 2011
10:43 am
The good news is we still have a 2.5 game lead, at least for now. It is also a good thing there are under 10 games left because longer than that and the Cards or Frisco would catch us.
We have to hope Hudson and maybe Beachy can give us wins and maybe we get a break with Hansen & or J.J. winning a game down the stretch. Maybe one of the young callups will toss a nice game under pressure?
The strength of this club was pitching and we all knew it, now that our staff has broken down this makes our biggest issue very plain….. this is a poor hitting team as a whole.
Ending the season with the Phillys is going to make this very tough, shame it will come down to that series but those who follow the Braves daily knew the team had issues all season long.
Lets be glad for now we are still being chased!
dtanner
September 20th, 2011
10:44 am
phillies payroll 172,000,000,braves payroll 87,000,000,who do you think is gonna win more games,is one of the reasons i no longer watch baseball
b
September 20th, 2011
10:52 am
Mother of God, why want Fredi start Constanza?
He was pivotal to our success and now he won’t play him.
Why won’t Shultz,Bradley,Rogers or DOB qestion this carnival act.
Don'tBelieveIt
September 20th, 2011
10:54 am
I have read every post in this blog. I think it comes down to what Doug said: “but those who follow the Braves daily knew the team had issues all season long.”
Dragon
September 20th, 2011
11:00 am
Tommy Hanson not Hansen
HereWeGoAgain
September 20th, 2011
11:04 am
Only the Braves could lose a grounder in the lights…
DoninAcworth
September 20th, 2011
11:05 am
I’ve been with the Braves since I arrived in Atlanta in ‘68 after some withdrawl agnst with the Bumbs
that I joined in 1947. Yes, these season ending nerves can be awful but hang in there fans! I see
great things if Fredi will just tweek the line-up just a little more: Say Chipper to come off the bench
at just the right hitting/walk time and a better defensive Prado at 3rd. Hopefully, Lowe? Perhaps
NEVER a starter now and “hurry” Hanson we need you! We’ve got the moxie to finish good but
if now….. wait til next year!
playoff!
September 20th, 2011
11:08 am
if the braves choke and miss the playoffs, the GM and manager must go! Enough is enough!
bart
September 20th, 2011
11:10 am
A historical choke job. Even if a miracle happens and they do make the playoffs they’ll be gone in three. Their psyche is damaged beyond repair for this year.
Fredi
September 20th, 2011
11:15 am
Wait, so you’re telling me that the bullpen is starting to wear down? But how can that be? Using them in EVERY SINGLE GAME is good for them, right? I made sure that I used Venters every day last year and he was fine, so I figured do the same thing this year. No matter what, just throw them out there. “They’re fine. There’s nothing there that I know about. They’re good to go. It’s just one of those games. Tomorrow you go out there and you give them the ball.”
HereWeGoAgain
September 20th, 2011
11:17 am
The Braves have no “swagger” left. They no longer expect to win. You can look at them and see that they have already thrown in the towel. Are you ready for some football?????
1991 braves
September 20th, 2011
11:26 am
No need to panic, the braves have the smartest manager in baseball, and they have the stud stopper Lowe, and they have the big mouth, crybaby Larry Jones. With the 3 stooges leading the way, there is no way this team loses the wildcard. Lowe has 2 more starts, so you know he will pitch like the stud he is and put the team on his back down the stretch. And the manager with more baseball smarts than any manager in baseball will outsmart the other managers down the stretch. And Larry Jones will continue to criticize every player in public, but he will fail to mention how pathetic he is at times. Going to buy my playoff tickets today, no way the 3 stooges let this team down. Sounds good anyway. Wouldn’t pay 5 cents to go watch these clowns play, and certainly wouldn’t pay 5 cents to watch Lowe pitch, and fat fredi manage. Actually the real 3 stooges were much more entertaining to watch than these 3 clowns.
JMac2011
September 20th, 2011
11:38 am
This is for Doug who posted @10:43….. I got news for you; The Braves will be caught, because the Cardinals are the better team, and deserve the playoffs more. The defending champ Giants might make it a 3 way.