Somebody Up There must really like the Atlanta Braves
The Braves are 10-14 in September. They’ve won one of the past seven series. They’ve gone from three games ahead of Philadelphia on Sept. 1 to six games back with six to play. And you know what?
They still should win the wild card.
They start the week a half-game behind San Diego, which is a half-game behind San Francisco in the National League West. The Braves play the Marlins these next three days. The Padres have four against the Cubs. The Giants have three against Arizona. But here’s the catch:
The Padres and Giants finish against one other. One of them has to lose each of the season’s final three days. The Braves end against the Phils, who have already clinched a playoff berth and a tie for the East title. That quirk of scheduling should be enough to get the Braves into the postseason. Provided the Braves remember what it is to win a series, which is, as we know, not exactly a certainty.
The Braves have lost three series to last-place clubs in three weeks. Of their 10 victories in September, four have been posted by Derek Lowe. Their rotation is coming unglued. Their batting order fell to pieces a while back. The wonder isn’t that this team is losing but that it still holds the chance to win something. The Braves are most fortunate.
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423 comments Add your comment
USED CARS
September 27th, 2010
11:22 am
I was thinking of a challenge trade, Bobby Cox for Mark Richt. They both look tired and frustrated at this point and a change of scenery might help
braves70
September 27th, 2010
11:22 am
As the Titanic plunged beneath the ocean foam for the final time, the AJC writers were heard to say “Don’t worry! We are not ……. blub, blub,blub ……… dead …….. blub, blub ….. yet.”
Bob's brother, Lil Jack Horner
September 27th, 2010
11:23 am
The Braves are not dead. That stink is coming from the fans.
China Bill
September 27th, 2010
11:25 am
Mark,
How can Gonzalez hit 17 hr before the trade, and only 6 after?
Ankel is worthless!
Why has Lee totally lost it?
McLouth isn’t even a good AA player!
It used to be players got better when the came to the Braves!
I think, Pitching just got tired of holding up the hitters
Swaga 1
September 27th, 2010
11:25 am
The Braves could not beat Washington(last place team) 2 of 3 when it had to and u guys now think that the are going to miraculously beat florida and phils. it doesn’t matter who the opposition has pitching for them the braves cannot score runs. its funny how a pitcher who has been struggling all year seems to find it when he faces the braves. funny how that happens.
BamaFan
September 27th, 2010
11:25 am
Sorry, the Braves are dead and I have no more hope. The NL West is beating each other up to the point that they will let the Rockies make magic again. I hate even pulling up the scores now. They need to go 6 – 0 with no questions asked.
SG10
September 27th, 2010
11:26 am
Mark,
You said the next season will be good. Where do you see Braves improving next year? Who will take McLouth’s contract? Without adding a payroll, how can they improve? Despite Glaus’ late struggles, there is going to be a drop in the first base production. Freeman doesn’t seem as ready as Heyward was. The only move I see is that if Chipper comes back then Infante wil move to the LF. Also, I don’t see how we can improve defensively with the same group of guys and the defense was our biggest handicap this year.
Dave Pursley- Team Medic
September 27th, 2010
11:27 am
The Braves are not dead. That pale look is just natural this time of year.
Terry
September 27th, 2010
11:27 am
The Braves will never go anywhere without some team speed. Every year they won the Division, they had at least one guy with 20+ steals. Since 2005, no Brave has stolen 20 bases in a season.
Laughing So Hard Peed My Pants
September 27th, 2010
11:28 am
“They still should win the wild card.”
When I saw your column listed on the page, I assumed it was the old column from last week. Instead, I see it’s brand new and bold as hell! lol
Your logic is the same logic you and many others had that the Braves should go into DC and take that series.
Your logic features no real logic. On paper doesn’t matter. The Nats have handled the Braves this year and last. The Nats have OWNED the Braves in Nationals Park! Yet you guys(sorry, Im laughing now) you guys tell us how the Braves are gonna get it done in DC! lol
So now they go home to face a Marlins team who although crippled (oh yeah, the Nats took the series without Ryan Z taking an AB) helped end the season for the Braves last year by contributing to making sure the Braves late season run amounted to nothing! Then you have the Phillies who will probably give their 3 Cy’s a few innings each so not to totally disrupt their rotation. A few innings from each of those Cy’s should be enough to seal the Braves fate.
Wait!! Now I get it! Bradley, you sly old dog! You saw how DOB was getting all the flak for not asking the hard questions or writing the hard column even though he’s the beat writer, and you decided to stir the pot by writing something even YOU don’t believe! That has to explain it! There is no logic otherwise!
Geez even
Swaga 1
September 27th, 2010
11:28 am
its funny when a pitcher has been struggling all year but seems to throw a good game against these Braves…..we have no offense. We are not going to the playoffs u guys will just have to come to this reality….the faster u do the better off you’re gonna be. IF, and that a big IF we get into the playoff we’re gone in 4 games and possibly get swept. We’re not that good people….never have been
JoeFan
September 27th, 2010
11:29 am
The Braves have more lives than a cat. However, this team has gone from a fun group to watch to a almost complete flop. Right now they don’t deserve to be in any kind of playoffs and would do us all a favor if they missed the playoffs altogether. And they get paid for this performance?
Undertaker
September 27th, 2010
11:29 am
Oh, okay. I must be at the wrong place.
soxman
September 27th, 2010
11:32 am
They ARE playing like the postseason! Like a Bobby Cox postseason team! What do you call a guy with a 1 and 24 record? LOOOOOOOSER! Thank you Bobby Cox- for FINALLY quitting!
DCBrave33
September 27th, 2010
11:35 am
I agree with both Keith and you Mr. Bradley, the Braves are still alive and really shouldn’t be. That right there is cause for SOME optimism. I dont understand people who think it doesn’t matter if they get in or not because they will be swept. Who says so? There have been countless teams (not just the 2006 Cardinals) to look hapless late in the season, only to turn it around in October. Heck, even the other ‘06 WS team, the Tigers blew the division in the final three weeks but held on to the WC and went to the World Series. The Yankees won 87 games and lost 7 or 8 out of there last 9 games in 2000, but they went on to win the WS.
It is always good to get into the postseason, because everybody has a chance. It is not like football where you play exclusively on the road, or play more rounds. In baseball you never really have your hands tied behind your back (except for occasional pitching rotation shuffling). Let’s get there, enjoy it, and take our chances!
Bishop Eddie
September 27th, 2010
11:35 am
The Braves are not dead.Welcome to the world. The Washington sweep means nothing and we’ll stand together and fight this thing to the end son.
reality check
September 27th, 2010
11:35 am
I aaid before the Nats series we would be lucky to win 2 or 3 games with the remaining schedule. We have 1 and face the Fish who beat us even when we are good and the Phat Phils who just swept us.
Did I give the Braves too much credit. Can we win another game?
Huddy is showing signs of being tired.
No other pitcher, except maybe Lowe is pitching well.
No timely hitting
No good fielding
No good bench play or pinch hitting
What is there left? Oh yeah, the season being over.
reality check
September 27th, 2010
11:37 am
As Jim Mora once said….”PLAY OFFS, play offs, are you kidding me?”
Dr. R
September 27th, 2010
11:39 am
I agree with Mark, and those who think Bobby has done a great job with what he has. I know there always are fans who want to blame him, and who basicallly think this team is better than it is. He has squeezed the most out of a fairly mediocre roster. When you factor in the injuries to Chipper, Medlen and Jurrjens, it’s quite remarkable they are still in the hunt. Remember, this is a mid-payroll team that did not spend big money in the offseason at all (which is why we wound up with Troy Glaus and his one-month hot bat at first base). Think of it this way: At the trade deadline, the Phils got Roy Oswalt; the Braves got Ankiel and Farnsworth. Which team is financially more committed to winning? Bobby is having to put a weak lineup and rookie pitchers out there every night now. He and Wren have done a great job turning this club into a contender, whatever happens this last week. You win with talent, and they just don’t quite have enough.
Keith
September 27th, 2010
11:40 am
Re: DC Brave 33
NIce post. Now between your article and mine, Bradley will just have to do a little plagrism-tweaking and have his next blog!
Kidding, Mark!
GO BRAVES!!!
Home = Hope.
Keith
September 27th, 2010
11:41 am
I can’t spell today. hehe
DCBrave33
September 27th, 2010
11:41 am
I also wanted to add that the alarming thing to me is that while the Braves are in the thick of the pennant race, it seems that few people, if any (both fans and on the team) are enjoying themselves. That to me is most troubling. No one seems to be enjoying playing these meaningful games here at the wire. Look at San Diego, San Fran, they both seem to be embracing the excitement of the chase. The Braves seem to have a sense of relief when they win (like Saturday).
The players and fans need to soak up and enjoy this final homestand. The more excited you are about the opportunity you have as opposed to worried about the consequences, the better off you will be, in my opinion.
Maybe you could talk about that as well Mark (if you perceive it too)? Are the players enjoying the race, or are they just filled with anxiety and pressure? Sure looks like the latter, despite cliche comments like “just can’t wait to get to the park” and things like that.
Darth Hater
September 27th, 2010
11:42 am
Even if the Braves sneak into the MLB Postseason and manage to win the World Series for Bobby Cox and Atlanta, Mike Vick will still be the “Johnny Appleseed” of Herpes.
Ted M
September 27th, 2010
11:45 am
Mark,
Do you know if any of the Braves read your blog?
Dr. R
September 27th, 2010
11:45 am
DCBrave33 is right. Too many fans still act as if the playoffs are a birthright. Only four teams in each league get in; it’s special and rare to do so. Because the Braves won 14 straight years, I think fans began to take it for granted. And we still have that college football mentality that says all we gotta do is show up and make a bowl, but it doesn’t work that way in the pros. Be happy to be in contention. You could be fans of the Nats or Pirates, who have nothing to look forward to in September.
As for D Lowe, he’s a guy who takes the ball and shows what a tough cat he is. Forget ERA, wins count, and the dude has won 15 two straight years and doesn’t miss starts. He eats up innings and keeps his team in games. Not every pitcher is going to blow away hitters for nine innings; you need some guys like Lowe to get through a season. He’s been worth every penny if you ask me.
Keith
September 27th, 2010
11:46 am
Re: DCBrave33
Good point. How much more exciting will the postseason berth be when it happens @ the Ted as opposed to on the road.
GO BRAVES!!! Get excited. Go to the games. Cheer. Scream. Clap.
Keith
September 27th, 2010
11:48 am
More on DCBraves33
Yes, it does seem like some of the excitement has faded a bit from the postgame comments since before the Philly series…when they were talking about how everyone is meshing in the clubhouse…having said that, I’m sure some of them will be excited to be playing @ home.
Carl
September 27th, 2010
11:48 am
Six days and we will have the answer for
sure.The answer could come in 4 days.
DCBrave33
September 27th, 2010
11:48 am
Thanks Keith, yeah, maybe Bradley could use us as potential brainstormers!
Its funny, Bradley is definitely my favorite Sportswriter but, as has been well documented, every time he makes a proclaimation (no matter how much fact or evidence there is to support it) for the last 4 or 5 years they have completely come back to haunt him! People are viewing him as the new Sports Illustrated cover!
I can still remember some of the good predictions too though, like the 2002 Georgia team that won the SEC. He was all over that.
Someone has to talk about the successes, even if that was 8 years ago! haha!
SR
September 27th, 2010
11:48 am
Well stated by one poster who said, “good teams do not lose 2 straight series to the Nats”, who just happen to reside where they always do, that is last place and another who nailed it when he said, Bobby just has not had that much to work with this year. Wren is an idiot, a horse’s ass and a moron wrapped up in a suit. My gosh, what a miserable, flawed roster he has assembled and frankly, I don’t give a damn what their record is, we are talking about today and a team that cannot win a series when they absoutely have to against the stinking Nats, the NATS for chrissake, isn’t even worth the newsprint. Once again, on Wren’s tombstone will be the following epitath… “Nope, not one team under my control ever made the playoffs. Loser.
RM
September 27th, 2010
11:49 am
At least there’s only a week or two left to listen to the Bobby Cox bashers. IMO, he has done a good job this year with what he had to work with. But that’s me…
NoleinDC
September 27th, 2010
11:49 am
The talent should be there to beat the bottom feeders and if a team gets hot, ala the 2006 cardinals anything can happen. The problem is with Cox’s lineup card. He needs to end the mcclouth experiment. Get Hinkse and Conrad in there more. Go back to Letting Prado leadoff, and let infante hit later in the order..Let Hinkse bat 3rd…the funk started when Bobby tinkered with the lineup and when, Hoss went down..
Steve-o
September 27th, 2010
11:51 am
From USED CARS: “McLouth could go after balls in the gap, Melkie would be active on balls hit directly at CF and Ankiel could throw for both. At the plate, McLouth could come up in unimportant situations, Ankiel could bat when we need a strikeout to avoid the double play and Melkie could stand in the on-deck circle and eat donuts.”
Man, that’s hilarous! We need a good laugh about this teams CF predicament.
Let's Go
September 27th, 2010
11:52 am
If the Braves make the playoffs they won’t have to face the Phillies unitl the league championship series and the way things are looking they would have to face the Giants (or Padres) in the first round and since neither of these are hitting any better than the Braves you have to like their chances. You would think the Braves would need to win 5 of 6 but the way the Padres and Rockies have been playing you never know 4 wins might be enough to at the very least get into a 1 game playoff next monday.
Mark………or anyone else, have they said where a one game playoff would be if needed?
DCBrave33
September 27th, 2010
11:55 am
Yep I agree Keith. I do think that tonight’s game is of upmost importance on the homestand though. I think the tone needs to be set by simply playing a good baseball game. That doesnt mean win 10-0, just take care of the opportunities given to us. When a guy is on 2nd with 0 out, get him in. Guy on 3rd with 1 out, get him in. Play clean in the field, limit the free passes, just do the small things. Set the tone for a good homestand.
I am curious, from Mark or anyone else on the blog today: What are we expecting as far as a crowd the next few nights? I know the Phils series will be packed, but how about this week against the Fish? I am anxious to see what it looks like. Anyone have any knowledge on tickets sold or a guess on how many people make a showing? I am cautiously expecting to see around 30-35 k the next two nights. I think the afternoon game will be tough for many. I hope it is more than that, but I hope it is AT LEAST that many. Anyone know that the team is expecting?
This is our year...again.
September 27th, 2010
11:55 am
Hey Mark, let’s get hypothetical for a moment here. If we end up in a three way tie with the Giants and Padres, how will that be sorted out? Would there be a playoff game between the two of them and another one between the loser and the Braves?
pat
September 27th, 2010
11:58 am
If you lose your second series to a last place team for the second time in a row, even if you make the playoffs, you are doomed. They look terrible. They can’t hit, at all. It’s one thing being a weak hitting team, it’s another to be a no-hitting team.
As for Cox, putting two rookie pitchers against a hot team in the most important series if the season made me glad he’s leaving. There is no long haul anymore. If we cannot play better than this, better to no make it, than to be humiliated in the first round of the play-offs.
SR
September 27th, 2010
11:59 am
From out here on the West Coast, my money says if this sad sack bunch somehow manages to back into the playoffs and draws the Giants in the first round, they will exit even faster than they have in the past. The Giants pitching is over the top and with the Braves, you know Hudson will choke, Jurrjens will find another body part to hurt, and so on and so on.
Keith
September 27th, 2010
12:01 pm
Re: RM
You are absolutely on target! Completely agree. If you were to tell me in March that the Braves would be .5 out of the WC and would have held the division for 3+ mos, I would call you INSANE!
Cox has performed wonderfully, even though his tactics frustrate me sometimes.
RE: DCBraves
Yes, exactly! He sends us an email 1-2 weeks in advance for ideas. Hmmmm. Good call on the remembering good predictions. hehe
DCBrave33
September 27th, 2010
12:01 pm
Let’s Go:
A one-game playoff with either the Padres or the Giants would be at Turner Field. We have a winning record against both teams. That determines it.
I also am thinking along the same lines as you. I think 5 out of 6 wins it for us, and 4-2 puts us in a one game playoff. Maybe 3-3 gets you into a playoff, but I think the realistic goal has to be at least 4-2. If they win both series and still lose, you tip your hat to the other two teams…then kick yourself for missed opportunities earlier this year.
Keith
September 27th, 2010
12:03 pm
Re: pat
See my earlier post. It would be logical to deduce that it is the way baseball works (according to your post). However, reality is the opposite. That is a baseball myth.
Just FYI.
Bradley said he might make it his next blog….so watch for it.
Fulton County Dog Catcher
September 27th, 2010
12:03 pm
To Atlanta Braves Batters: Watch out because I am under orders to round up all mangy dogs.
Keith
September 27th, 2010
12:04 pm
DCBrave33
I’ve heard that a coin toss determines the playoff (heard that on 680 regarding one situation)…but I believe that is in the event that there is a tied record for the regular season. Do you know?
DCBrave33
September 27th, 2010
12:05 pm
This is our year…again:
The three way tie scenario actually is pretty interesting. We only get one shot to advance, they get two. What would happen is, SD and SF would play a one game playoff for the division, the winner advances to the Division Series, while the loser then travels all the way to ATL to play us in a one game playoff for the WC. They get two chances, we get one, but against a tired and depleted pitching staff (you would hope).
Now, I dont know what happens in a 4 way tie if the Rockies get hot and sweep this week. Ughh, That would be terrible.
Lance
September 27th, 2010
12:06 pm
I just don’t think the Braves want it bad enough. It’s a shame. Played great baseball most of the year and the last month, they crumble to peices. I hope they pull it out but even if they do, they better start hitting unless they want to be embarrassed in the playoffs.
Tater the Bobby Hater
September 27th, 2010
12:07 pm
The Braves may not be dead clinically, but they are certainly circling the drain.
Lance
September 27th, 2010
12:07 pm
One more thing! DO NOT PUT Venters in the game. He SUCKS!!! As soon as I see Bobby keep putting him in the game, I turn the T.V. off.
DCBrave33
September 27th, 2010
12:07 pm
That’s right Keith, if teams tie for the WC and have the same record against each other, I believe that they look at records against the National League (with Interleague now, those records could be different). I know if it is a division tie and the teams split the season series they then determine it by total divisional record.
DCBrave33
September 27th, 2010
12:09 pm
Keith:
the coin-flip scenario is listed here.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/about/division_ties.shtml
DCBrave33
September 27th, 2010
12:10 pm
Whoops, wrong link!
Here is the new rules as of last Sept.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090917&content_id=7018116