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
Little Jimmy
September 27th, 2011
10:01 pm
I have no other way to tell this team they stink than by not giving them my money.
Blanton Is Chubby
September 27th, 2011
10:01 pm
Fredi still not calling out the offense.
BaseballBuff
September 27th, 2011
10:01 pm
Lowe blows.
braves
September 27th, 2011
10:01 pm
HEY DRUNKS BLAME LOWE ALL YOU WANT,A MEANINGLESS HR WILL NOT WIN BALLGAMES
up north
September 27th, 2011
10:01 pm
If the Cardinals lose again, does that still mean they are better than the Braves?
rally
September 27th, 2011
10:02 pm
Bob Uecker would be a big improvement over Brian McCann as he is now.
warlaw
September 27th, 2011
10:02 pm
I’ve been watching the Brave’s since they came to Atlanta…even before that because the Crackers were a Braves farm team. The performance of the hitters, a few of the pitchers and the coaching staff on this team down the stretch is plainly abysmal. When we get behind as we so often have this past month, the team just seems to quit. Please tell me why this genius manager of ours, Senor Gonzalez, continues to run Lowe back out on the mound when he has fresh young arms sitting in the bullpen. Am I also the only one who knows that C. Martinez is a homer machine and S. Linebrink, worse still. And why did it take them 2/3 of the season to figure out that Proctor’s fast ball had no movement and hence was so easily to hit. Gonzalez overused Venters & Kimbrel, wore them out. Then on a couple of occasions when he needed them out there, he refused to call their number resulting in Atlanta losses. This team gave away at least a half dozen victories since he All Star break with bad managing. Even one lost victory would have made the difference this year. Not sure about the rest of the fans, but I’ve had enough of Gonzalez inane remarks after losses. Larry Parrish might as well be a fan for all the good he’’s done. It is time for a change in the leadership of this team. We have the nucleus of a great winning machine and the future is bright, but we will never realize our potential with Gonzalez at the helm. Just saying…. A very frustrated fan!
braves
September 27th, 2011
10:02 pm
BaseballBuff
September 27th, 2011
10:01 pm
Lowe blows
JUST WHAT YOUR SISTER TOLD ME THAT ALSO THANKS
Hit A Single
September 27th, 2011
10:02 pm
Well I have to go, it has been frustrating but interesting. I am as big a Braves fan as any and I will be pulling like heck for them tommorrow. I feel good with Hudson and hopefully we will do some situational hitting and get it done. Go Braves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Vain Jangling
September 27th, 2011
10:03 pm
Cross over, Fredi. All are welcome. All welcome. Go into the light. There is peace and serenity in the light.
BaseballBuff
September 27th, 2011
10:03 pm
I have tickets to the game tomorrow. If the Braves lose again, I for one will boo them off the field. That’s what being a good fan is, you see.
MitchC
September 27th, 2011
10:05 pm
Even if Houston helps us tonight, we really need Hudson to win tomorrow. I dont like the idea of a one game playoff in St Louis on Thursday. Either Houston wins tonight, and we need to do it tomorrow, or I think we are going home, either tomorrow, or Thursday.
I dont want to be negative, but how can anyone be positive with the way the Braves have collapsed?
jeff
September 27th, 2011
10:07 pm
Houston announcers saying Tim Hudson only one watching the STL. vs HOU game…? i guess noone cares
BaseballBuff
September 27th, 2011
10:07 pm
@braves I don’t have a sister. You must have heard that from your boyfriend.
Little Jimmy
September 27th, 2011
10:07 pm
No pressure Huddy…. just don’t give up any runs and be ready to pitch about 15 innings and we MIGHT be able to get one across the plate for you.
TN Jeff
September 27th, 2011
10:07 pm
Mental Midgets (clap, clap, clap clap clap) Mental Midgets (clap, clap, clap clap clap)
perk
September 27th, 2011
10:08 pm
fredi looks completely lost. you do not manage games 158 – 162 like it is game 100. you play with urgency. I take out Lowe when he bats in the 3rd with a PH. wasted out and wasted inning. game over right there. can you imagine what Huddy is feeling right now??
Little Jimmy
September 27th, 2011
10:08 pm
jeff
September 27th, 2011
10:07 pm
Houston announcers saying Tim Hudson only one watching the STL. vs HOU game…? i guess noone cares
—————————————————
I heard the same about last night. If none of those overpaid SOBs don’t care, then why the F should I ???????
Big Wally
September 27th, 2011
10:08 pm
Only way the Braves win tomorrow is if Huddy throws a shut out and hits a homer.
gcs
September 27th, 2011
10:08 pm
1. Why start Lowe?
2. With all the pitchers available, why leave him in so long?
3. Go Astros.
.
PTC DAWG
September 27th, 2011
10:09 pm
The Braves have quit as a team this year, I’m quitting as a fan this year.
TN Jeff
September 27th, 2011
10:09 pm
It really is a one man show tomorrow. Huddy we need you to pitch a complete game shut-out and hit a solo homerun. You can DO IT!
REPORTER
September 27th, 2011
10:09 pm
POST GAME COMMENTS
CHIPPER TIP YOUR CAP GETEM TOMORROW
FREDI LOWE PITCHED GREAT,GOTTA TIP YOUR CAP
rally
September 27th, 2011
10:10 pm
We lost Jeff Schultz after it got to be about 5-0. Has anyone heard from him? He did not jump out of the upper deck?
TN Jeff
September 27th, 2011
10:10 pm
Then can you come back and do it again on Thursday Huddy?
Braves fan
September 27th, 2011
10:11 pm
what i told u already fools,tim hudson would not leave,made me stay late,what a idiot
Braves fan
September 27th, 2011
10:12 pm
im getting sick and tired of moving the dam champagne,im not moving it nowhere tomorrow
No Way
September 27th, 2011
10:13 pm
Notice the Alzheimer ad at the top of the page? I think all the Braves have forgotten why they are in the ball park. What a terrible disease that hit all of them at once.
Blanton Is Chubby
September 27th, 2011
10:14 pm
I’d have EVERY pitcher (except Lowe) available tomorrow.
No Way
September 27th, 2011
10:14 pm
Braves Fan…you are too funny. You and Sonny make this blog.
jeff
September 27th, 2011
10:14 pm
seriously but i have been a braves fan since i can remember… can’t help but root for the Astros and hope Hudson pitches a gem tomorrow… we will see
Blanton Is Chubby
September 27th, 2011
10:15 pm
Jeff & Dlowe are drinking brewskies….
PhilliesFan
September 27th, 2011
10:15 pm
Are post game quotes up yet or are the Braves taking the 5th?
Kimbrel rocks
September 27th, 2011
10:15 pm
can someone please explain to me why they ALL swing at the first pitch? do they not think opposing pitchers know that coming into the game? unreal
Braves fan
September 27th, 2011
10:16 pm
announcers dont know nothing,tim,chipper,ff are watching
No Way
September 27th, 2011
10:16 pm
The Braves are DRINKING a fifth.
Blanton Is Chubby
September 27th, 2011
10:16 pm
Yes they are funny. Funny quir not funny Ha Ha…
Big Wally
September 27th, 2011
10:17 pm
“Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue”.
Michael Bourn
September 27th, 2011
10:17 pm
Summer vacation starts Thursday b*tch3$!!!
Braves fan
September 27th, 2011
10:18 pm
ok thanks im doing this in clubhouse,and of course dob is here for more brownie points,in fredi office
rally
September 27th, 2011
10:18 pm
Larry Parrish philosophy of hitting: Swing like a cave man at every pitch thrown. You might get lucky and hit a home run. So what if you strike out over 100 times. I always did and look where I am now: A major league batting coach.
PhilliesFan
September 27th, 2011
10:19 pm
Big Wally…. Great movie quote “I am serious and don’t call me Shirley”
Alex Gonzalez
September 27th, 2011
10:19 pm
My flight to the Dominican Thursday is non refundable!
Braves fan
September 27th, 2011
10:20 pm
the mood is normal,no one cussing,throwing things,some are watching the game,have no clue where d lowe is
Jason Heyward
September 27th, 2011
10:20 pm
I haven’t been this excited for something to end since high school.
Blanton Is Chubby
September 27th, 2011
10:21 pm
Larry Parrish works like a Maytag repairman…
Braves fan
September 27th, 2011
10:21 pm
update………dob interviewing d lowe
Jeff Schultz
September 27th, 2011
10:21 pm
Folks, you can move commenting over to the game column, which is now posted. I’ll update it after the Cardinals-Astros game. Houston leads 6-5 in 6th.
http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2011/09/27/braves-derek-lowe-blow-up-again-but-somehow-still-live/
Scott Linebrink
September 27th, 2011
10:21 pm
Someone will be dumb enough to pick me up this offseason! FOOLS!
No Way
September 27th, 2011
10:21 pm
The Highway Patrol will find him soon enough. Tell the boys we said “Fine Job!”