LIVE: Braves can clinch tonight (and it starts with Lowe)
The Braves will do more scoreboard watching tonight, and hope to have another banner to raise.
Amid all of the angst of the Braves’ collapse (10-18), the injured starters (Jair Jurrjens, Tommy Hanson), the slumping hitters (Martin Prado, Jason Heyward, Brian McCann) and the overused bullpen, guess what? The Braves can actually clinch the wild card tonight.
OK, for that to happen, the Braves need to hit a long-odds parlay: 1) The maligned starter, Derek Lowe, needs a strong outing to defeat the Phillies at Turner Field; 2) The St. Louis Cardinals need to lose for a second straight game in Houston. Those two developments would give the Braves the National League wild card spot for the second straight year, and render Wednesday’s regular-season finale against Philadelphia meaningless.
Few expected the Cards to lose to the Astros Monday night. It happened (5-4 in 10 innings). But the Braves’ postseason chances mostly hinge on Lowe. If he and the Braves win tonight, at worst the magic number is down to one, with Tim Hudson on the mound Wednesday against Joe Blanton (advantage: Braves).
What the Braves need is the Lowe of Sept. 2010, not 2011. Last season, he went 5-0 with a 1.17 ERA (29 strikeouts, three walks) in his final five regular season starts. But this has been the worst season of his career. He’s 9-16 with a 4.92 ERA. He’s 0-4 in his last four starts with an 8.24 ERA (though his last start at Florida was solid).
The other obvious issue for the Braves is a lack of offense. They lost 4-2 on Monday, have scored two or fewer runs in four of their last five games and three or fewer in six of their last 10. They’re also hitting only .239 in the month of September and .181 (32-for-177) with with runners in scoring position this month.
They’ll need to break out of that against the Phillies’ Roy Oswalt, who has been strong in two starts against the Braves this season (1-0, 2.08 in two starts) but in his career is only 1-3 with a 5.15 ERA.
As you prepare to scoreboard watch, your second favorite team, the Astros, will start Henry Sosa (3-5, 4.68) against the Cardinals’ Jake Westbrook (12-9, 4.48).
And with that, I turn it over to you. We wait to see what Lowe gives us.
Can this be an omen? There was a rainbow over Turner Field two hours before the Braves' game.
By Jeff Schultz
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1,258 comments Add your comment
George Stein
September 27th, 2011
8:40 pm
OK. NOW can we fire Fredi?
Space Monkey
September 27th, 2011
8:40 pm
Why on God’s Earth would we want this pitiful team in the playoffs?
monarch
September 27th, 2011
8:40 pm
the GA little league all-stars can take these guys
Jeff Schultz
September 27th, 2011
8:40 pm
Alaska Dawg — Wish I was there right now.
Chad
September 27th, 2011
8:40 pm
at least we’re not the Cubs. They would kill to be in this position.
MitchC
September 27th, 2011
8:40 pm
Even if Houston gives us help, this Braves team doesnt deserve to make the playoffs. We should have had this locked up, long ago.
Philly will probably sweep us, and I still think we are going down somehow. Either it will be over tomorrow, or in a one game playoff tiebreaker with the Cards. I dont see this team getting to the NLDS with as bad as it is playing.
Oh, and I’m watching Cards-Astros, since I consider the Braves game to be over.
Brave-less
September 27th, 2011
8:40 pm
got some quotes lined up for FG, spoken by Fredi, should he decide to reuse them:
-Gonzalez told ESPNdeportes.com’s Enrique Rojas that the firing did not come as a shock. “It doesn’t surprise me, these things are normal in this job,” he said.
-”There’s no question that I feel very responsible today,” he said. “I feel as though I have failed completely to date with the organization.”
For the players:
“I feel like we let him down.”
“”I enjoyed playing for Fredi. He was a good man, a good manager”
Herschel Talker
September 27th, 2011
8:40 pm
Schultzie:
People should be thoroughly angry that Fredi started Lowe. Talk about mailing in a game. Simply disgraceful. I’d rather have started Teheran or anyone else. You asked earlier what other options were there. I say what other options could have been worse?
HT
Ivan
September 27th, 2011
8:41 pm
Looks like das braves have put up the white flag. 6-0 Philly………………..Something vedy vedy wrong with das team……………….:(
DLowe
September 27th, 2011
8:41 pm
Now that I’m finished pitching can I go get me a drink somewhere?
Derek Blow
September 27th, 2011
8:41 pm
Gotta tip your hats to them…
Chad
September 27th, 2011
8:41 pm
You can decide to play with some heart and emotion- like the Phillies.
dawg4u
September 27th, 2011
8:41 pm
My other is watching the James Caan movie “Misery” with Kathy Bates and it is not half as depressing as this debacle. PLAYOFFS! We’re just trying to win a game but we’re really not trying too hard to win. I knew a 3 game lead with 5 to play with this bunch would be difficult. How do they look at themselves in the mirror in the morning? SAD.
George Washington
September 27th, 2011
8:41 pm
Nothing is more pathetic than seeing a man down after a heavy loss, mournfully spilling his sould to the microphone while donning a sweet-ass Fohawk.
Matt Websters
September 27th, 2011
8:41 pm
Bring out yer dead! [a man puts a body on the cart, unaware of the fact that the man is actually alive]
: Here’s one.
: That’ll be ninepence.
I’m not dead.
What?
Nothing. [hands the collector his money] There’s your ninepence.
: I’m not dead!
: ‘Ere, he says he’s not dead.
: Yes he is.
chase
September 27th, 2011
8:41 pm
If the Braves don’t make the playoffs, FREDI MUST BE FIRED! No excuse for this type of performance…oh an to Chipper’s quote just now having JJ and HANSON out DOES NOT EFFECT YOUR HITTING! and its the hitting that has been most of the problem
PhilliesFan
September 27th, 2011
8:41 pm
I know hindsight is 20/20 so I am not saying I thought of this. I didn’t think of this until I saw hudson in the dugout. Why not move him up on 4 days rest in this must win game and take your chances against Blanton? Or is he going tomorrow 4 on days rest?
M10
September 27th, 2011
8:41 pm
The Braves are just pathetic.A poor excuse for a baseball team.
LOB Braves
September 27th, 2011
8:41 pm
Teheran is obviously no good. He just struck out a guy that no one else could even get out. Of course, Teheran was not good enough to start in place of Blowe.
Life long Braves fan
September 27th, 2011
8:42 pm
Truth you are right on. Fredi has to go. Next year could be like the 70’s and average 5-6 thousand a game. Every team in our division will be better next year. We need wholesale changes. We need two corner outfielders bad and some pitchers that can go 7-8 innings at least one out of every 3 starts.
Geno
September 27th, 2011
8:42 pm
If I were manager and had to start Lowe, I’d have the bullpen going in the first inning.
truth23
September 27th, 2011
8:42 pm
any of you “fans” that talk about dumping Chipper are stupid. He has had a great year, carried us the second half of the season like he has all 15 years he has been here. He was an all star this year and has the 3rd highest batting average on the team…..Wanna blame someone?? blame Gonzalez, Heyward, Prado… they are the ones who have not hit!!!
Jefferson
September 27th, 2011
8:42 pm
Wow! Just checked out the game.
I thought the redsox collapse was bad! GEEZ!
Seriously I think teheran would have been a better choice tonight
Derek Lowe has got to be released. He’s a middle reliever at best and not worth 15M for that!
So sad. Hope atlanta makes some moves before next year. O’Ventbrel can’t pitch every other game!
Tampa deserves to be in playoffs & sad to say but so does St. Louis.
Braves played good for 5 months but they would get eliminated in 3 games if they went to playoffs
bostonbravo
September 27th, 2011
8:42 pm
Holy crap…Joe sez ” Lowe is pitching with conviction tonight!”…I said “Uh Oh”..switched to “Spartacus”…50 mins later…Braves down by 5!
No Fredi will hang around…as will Lowe…(who em???)
TampaGator
September 27th, 2011
8:42 pm
Truth Seaker…….
Someone in the front office must have told Gonzalez to play Heyward and sit the player that brought a spark to the team. They lost that spark when Heyward started to play every day. Also…..Gonzalez had nothing to do with the injuries to Tommy and Jar. He has pitched our three great relievers too much…..they are obviously worn down.
DLowe
September 27th, 2011
8:42 pm
I wish you Freddie would have started Teheran instead of me. We might have had a chance.
IdahoBravesFan
September 27th, 2011
8:42 pm
I can’t believe Fredi let Lowe come back out after they were already down by four runs. He should have known that any more runs would be lights out. Write this one off. On second thought, I can’t believe he sent Lowe out there period. That guy is auto-loss
Nocahoma's Wigwam
September 27th, 2011
8:42 pm
MLB Channel: “Derek Lowe was seen singing a Rihanna song in the clubhouse before the game”. What? SOS!!??? I’ve requested MLB.tv to give me a full refund and am closing the door on this bunch of choke artists. Please STL, put us out of our misery.
Skeezix
September 27th, 2011
8:42 pm
My wife, after the 4th inning, took over the TV and is watching one of those home decorating shows. I’ll follow along on the web and I’m keeping my good friend Jack Daniels close.
I was hoping Fredi wouldn’t start Lowe. This has turned out to be one miserable finish to the season. Asking this offense to score 7 against the Phils is asking a lot.
Ridonkulous
September 27th, 2011
8:42 pm
Joe Simpson: “Get some runs tonight to carry into tomorrow.”
The Braves scored 7 on Friday in Washington — since then they have scored 3 runs in 33 innings.
Old Dawg Fan
September 27th, 2011
8:42 pm
At least Teheran is trying to pitch well. He is actually pitching well. Why in the hell didn’t FG start this guy??? The Braves announcers have found something good!
carlchamblee
September 27th, 2011
8:43 pm
Maybe if the Astros can knock out the Cardinals they can take our place in the playoffs.
They’d have a better shot.
LakeDawg
September 27th, 2011
8:43 pm
I liked the Braves of the 70’s much better than I’ve liked the Braves of the past 15 years. I can’t stand teams that won’t compete when the going gets tough.
blazerdawg
September 27th, 2011
8:43 pm
OK Braves – 3 up 3 down. Now lets get the bats going…FU JuBu Braves will do it themselves!
ab initio
September 27th, 2011
8:44 pm
“Now in the game (too late), Julio Teheran.”
Understatement of the entire thread. If I’m Scheurholz, I’m giving you a call to manage my ball club for you have a clue.
Unlike the current skipper…
C3PO
September 27th, 2011
8:44 pm
I told you Teheran shoulda started…
Adam L.
September 27th, 2011
8:44 pm
This is the worst performance of professional athletes I can remember
NorCal Brave
September 27th, 2011
8:44 pm
Got here late tonight. Where’s Gonzo? Is he Gonzo for the year?
Shadowfax419
September 27th, 2011
8:44 pm
“Amid all of the angst of the Braves’ collapse (10-18), the injured starters (Jair Jurrjens, Tommy Hanson), the slumping hitters (Martin Prado, Jason Heyward, Brian McCann) and the overused bullpen, guess what? The Braves can actually clinch the wild card tonight.”
Guess you kinda missed that one huh?
Really folks…is Gonzalez really a major league manager? Does he stand up for his players? I can only remember him getting thrown out once this year. He comes out on disputable calls and “discusses” the call with the Ump and slithers back into the dugout. His post game comments are pathetic “canned” comments. I can’t explain the heartbreak I feel for my Braves. I used to go the stadium with my Dad in the 60’s and cheer with all my heart. Now I just don’ t care anymore.
So sad!
Alaska Dawg
September 27th, 2011
8:44 pm
Someone pull the plug.
jdawg
September 27th, 2011
8:44 pm
You are a joke Braves. Laugh all the way to the bank if you will, but we know, and you know, when you wake up at 3 am in your Brooks Brothers PJ’s, you know you are a bunch of quiting pathetic losers. You have no heart and no business in the playoffs. Even if SL chokes it away and lets you slip in, you have no guts, and should be ashamed for what you’ve done. You Chipper are the one who should look in the mirror the longest. Retire, like you should have done back when Andrew left, so that this team can move forward. You had your day in the sun. Your leadership speaks for itself. Please let this city and this club move on.
Vain Jangling
September 27th, 2011
8:44 pm
Oh somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,
And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout;
But there is no joy in Mudville – because . . . because . . . well, because we run a batting practice pitcher out there in a ‘must win’ game. And these guys wouldn’t know a clutch hit from a can of potted meat. And what’s up with Fredi Gonzalez? The guy’s dumber than a sack of hammers. He’s making Bobby Cox look like Albert freaking Einstein. And BTW, Mighty Casey didn’t strike out. No, he grounded weakly to second.
C3PO
September 27th, 2011
8:45 pm
I said that Teheran shoulda started before Lowe threw a pitch…
PhilliesFan
September 27th, 2011
8:45 pm
truth23…. I think the Chipper blame comes from his inability at this point in his career to stay healthy. I agree when healthy he is still very good but he does miss a ton of games.
Mike
September 27th, 2011
8:45 pm
So if…I mean when the Braves flop this, will the ownership realize this bargain basement lineup isnt working? Will it spur them to get into the Prince Fielder Sweepstakes? Just take Lowe’s salary on the chin, and pretend its not there…sort of like Lowe on the mound all season. I can’t for the life of me understand why Gonzales put Lowe on the mound tonight in basically a must win type of ballgame. Did he really expect any different?
ESPN
September 27th, 2011
8:45 pm
Guess what we are showing right now to hex the Braves.
Catching Hell.
The Steve Bartman story.
Alex Gonzales just bobbled a double play ball.
Hey maybe he brought the jinx here with him.
LOB Braves
September 27th, 2011
8:45 pm
Fredi is a worse manager than B. Cox when it comes to pitching. Remember all the games that Proctor cost us. Then it was Linesuck. And of course continuing to start Blowe.
Mitchell
September 27th, 2011
8:45 pm
Braves can clinch tonight (and it starts with Lowe)
No, actually. It ends with Lowe.
Nice try.
DLowe
September 27th, 2011
8:45 pm
Man, I hope we don’t make the playoffs. It would mean I would have to go back out there and embarrass myself again. I sure hope they still pay me for not being very good.
Silky-d
September 27th, 2011
8:46 pm
Time to watch a real winner!!! Let’s go Dream!!!