Sad to say, this Braves’ season could be over very soon
Folks, the Braves could be finished by the Fourth of July. They’re 30-33, no longer even in third place in the NL East. Of their next 15 games, not one is scheduled against a team under .500.
There’s no reason to think they’ll make a big move in the standings this next fortnight. They haven’t since the season’s first week. There’s a basic reason for that: They’re just not very good.
The starting pitching is solid but not 1990s-era solid. The relievers are so-so. The offense is awful. They’ve already made one major trade, and they’re 4-7 since Nate McLouth arrived. There’s not much more they can do to better themselves except play better, and at this point it doesn’t appear they’re capable.
Loading ...They’ve scored 37 runs in the 11 games since the McLouth acquisition, and even those numbers are misleading. Seven times in those 11 games they’ve scored three runs or fewer, and all seven times they’ve lost. Not to put too fine a point on it, but they just can’t hit. And I doubt they’ll ever hit much.
Twelve of the next 15 games are against the Red Sox, Yankees and Phillies. Those teams can hit. I wish I could say I’m optimistic, but I’d be lying. By the time the Peachtree Road Race gets here, the 2009 Braves could be done running.
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406 comments Add your comment
Bill Donohoo
June 18th, 2009
12:56 pm
When the Braves quit being excited about trading for a 250 hitter in CF and a 280 hitter at 1B because they are signed for 3 years I will be excited.Put McCann at 1B, Prado in RF and Diaz in LF. Send Johnson and Francour to AAA. Hopefully Infante will be back soon. Tell Mike G his fast ball is not good enough to live on.Shake things up!!!!!!!!!!!
JMac12203
June 18th, 2009
3:12 pm
I have said it before, and I will say it again. BOBBY HAS TO GO!!!! The last 2 or 3 years the Braves have been one of, if not THE MOST fundamentally UNSOUND teams in MLB. That comes back to poor managing and coaching. There is a noticeable lack of discipline; they are poor in their basic skills such as bunting, sacrificing, maunfacturing runs, fielding. Their best player spends as much time on the bench injured as he does playing 3d. The catcher is a good hitter, but can’t throw. Players go to seek advise from other teams hitting coaches. It all adds up to a BAD baseball team in need of a transfusion. The transfusion needs to begin with the manager and coaches, and then a new GM that will bring some legitimate talent to Atlanta. As a reminder how far the Braves have fallen, a question: When did the Atlanta Braves last WIN a playoff series?? Not MAKE the playoffs, but actually WIN a division series. I could be wrong myself, but try LAST CENTURY. It is LONG PAST TIME for a change.
jim
June 18th, 2009
3:37 pm
Lets not forget, with our pitching staff, this team could easily go on a 10 game win streak and be right back in this thing. Granted our hitting has been horid and If i had to bet Id say we are done BUT if the stars align we could pull this off. Dont stop believing boys.
Chris
June 18th, 2009
10:08 pm
Won’t catch the Phils
David
June 18th, 2009
10:43 pm
Where is the faith???????????????????????????????????????? This season will not be over until the end of september and the Braves will be 1st in the East and will go all the way to the world series and win it all!
Flip and flop: The story of a Braves' blogger's life | Mark Bradley
June 24th, 2009
3:13 pm
[...] was only a week ago I suggested the Braves’ season could be finished, at least as a vibrant entity, by the Fourth of July. Today I wrote there’s a way they can [...]