Update: It was a big day for the Braves, who didn’t even play
Glad tidings from a Philly fanatic. (AP photo)
Update: The Mets scored six runs in the ninth inning to beat St. Louis 8-6 after the Cardinals’ Rafael Furcal, of whom you’ve heard, couldn’t field a double-play grounder. The Braves lead the Cards by two games with six to play. Big break.
Today is an important day for the Braves, and they don’t even play. (The way they’re going, that’s a good thing.) The Cardinals are scheduled to complete their three-game series against the Mets this afternoon, and what happens in St. Louis will have a direct effect on the Braves’ psyche this next week.
Today’s the day when that half-game in the standings goes away. If the Cardinals lose, they’ll be two back with six to go. That’s still too close for comfort, but it beats the heck out of the alternative, which would be …
One game back, six to go.
The Braves appeared to have steadied last week. They held that 4 1/2-game lead for four days, saw it reduced to 3 1/2 on Friday, pushed it back to 4 1/2 on Saturday. They were positioned to keep it there Sunday afternoon, but Jonny Venters blew a lead and then Craig Kimbrel blew one the next night and suddenly they were only 2 1/2 games in front. After amassing two hits against Javier Vazquez (former Brave) last night while the Cardinals surged past the Mets yet again, the lead’s at 1 1/2.
And nothing’s steady now. The Braves led St. Louis by 10 1/2 games on Aug. 25, by 8 1/2 the day after Labor Day, which was barely two weeks ago. But the Braves have stopped hitting (again) and their rotation has been reduced to Tim Hudson and assorted rookies and the bullpen has started to wobble and …
According to Baseball Prospectus’ playoffs odds, the Braves’ chances of reaching the postseason stand at 70.3 percent. A week ago they were at 95 percent. This time next week they could be at 0 percent.
I didn’t see this coming. I didn’t think they were in real trouble until Monday night. But now I do. They’ve lost consecutive series to teams with losing records. They’ve won one of the past five series. They’ve lost 13 of 20 games. If they’re put in position where one more bad night could mean they’re no longer leading the wild-card race, I’m not sure how they’ll react.
The difference between a one-game and a two-game lead isn’t that much on paper, but with six games remaining a two-game lead could be viewed as almost healthy. A one-game lead could not. For a team that has had little go right this past fortnight, seeing the Cardinals lose today would be a major boost. But those Redbirds don’t seem to be losing much, do they?
The good news: Lefthander Chris Capuano is starting for the Mets, and he can be effective. The bad: He has won only twice in his past nine starts, and both victories, wouldn’t you know, were against the local nine. So the Braves have that going for them, which is … not really nice.
By Mark Bradley
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401 comments Add your comment
hmmmmmmmmmmmm
September 22nd, 2011
6:06 pm
This all started when Part Time 3b Chipper Jones opened his mouth about the Braves having confidence they could take the Phillies. He sat out that nights game and the team sat out the rest of them …
Rowsdower
September 22nd, 2011
6:08 pm
All that talk about do we matchup better with the Brewers or the D-Backs and who should be in the rotation for the NLDS. Chipper boasting that the Braves were the only team that could beat the Phillies in the playoffs. It all seems rather funny now, doesn’t it?
hmmmmmmmmmmmm
September 22nd, 2011
6:08 pm
I agree Rows … it isn’t always the most talented team- you have to want it at crunch time. No one on this team has that burning…Chipper sets the tone, and the team follows
Jordan
September 22nd, 2011
6:09 pm
http://isportsweb.com/2011/09/22/braves-losing-streak-continues/
Rowsdower
September 22nd, 2011
6:12 pm
@Skeezix – I disagree that injuries to JJ and Hanson started the slide. The Braves actually extended their lead after Hanson was shutdown and JJ was pitching terrible.
No, I would say that Hurricane Irene killed this team. We were on a huge roll when that bich hit and shut us down for 3 days. We had a 10.5 game lead at the time. We’ve gone 8-17 since. The offensive momentum we had disappeared. Lowe continued to be Lowe. That’s a recipe for an epic choke.
just sayin
September 22nd, 2011
6:15 pm
Does any one know why Dickey(aka Knuckles) was scratched from his turn in the rotation against the Cardinals today and replaced by a guy with an era over 6?
Very suspect move on the part of the Mets given the last time the Cardinals faced Dickey, Larussa pulled Albert P. Said he didn’t want to mess up his timing.
Sonny Clusters
September 22nd, 2011
6:17 pm
Chipper sets the tone and the tone is dull.
wins-by-a-link
September 22nd, 2011
6:18 pm
This has been a strange season, Known hitters have stopped hitting, Proven pitchers have lost thier touch, Bull pens have been worn to a frazzle, Managers have pulled thier hair out, Coaches fear for thier jobs, Fans can’t believe what has happened to thier beloved Braves, And to top it off, This team will be remembered more for blowing a big lead than they would have if they had won the World Series.
Tomahawkin (Ol Yeller Parrish)
September 22nd, 2011
6:19 pm
I’m Tired of The Injury Excuse The Team And The Commentators are always using! Those Excuses in Back to back years doesn’t fly in Cities like Philly, New Yawk and Boston…
Sure We had Injuries to the Pitching staff, but On Paper he were supposed to have the Most Pitching Depth in the majors and with Pitching Prospects “On Deck!”
Please Stop with The Excuses. We are Tired of It. Hence The Lack of attendnce in September Games…
Sonny Clusters
September 22nd, 2011
6:21 pm
We’d just like to tip our cap to somebody.
BaseballBuff
September 22nd, 2011
6:31 pm
I believe the mental aspect of baseball is under-reported and only vaguely understood by most. The Braves deny they have a problem with choking in crucial games and have always denied it. The reason given for losing is all too often attributed to the uncertainties of baseball, to the very nature of the game itself. But what we are witnessing with these Braves is a long-standing pattern. Before you can fix a problem, you have to acknowledge you have one.
BaseballBuff
September 22nd, 2011
6:34 pm
Win five out of the next six and seal the deal. Man up!
vesaversa
September 22nd, 2011
6:34 pm
The Braves bullpen have been outstanding the entire season . But the Braves offense is very weak and you can’t expect the bullpen to continue to save games in every series the offence have to win game too . The Braves young guns are just worn out . But still Heads should roll if the Braves don’t make it to the post season.
superiorblogman
September 22nd, 2011
6:37 pm
We only got 2 runs off of these same Mets with the same starter and the Cards get atleast 6, I think more like 9 or 10 before this is over.
superiorblogman
September 22nd, 2011
6:37 pm
Pujols is a real 1st ballot hall of famer.
Bravos
September 22nd, 2011
6:39 pm
Bourn. Good player strikes out ALOT
Prado. Overexposed this yr. Is nothing but a utility player playing full time
Jones…always hurt
McCann …Fat, slow, terrible defensively, wore down second half of season,kills fallys by just being onbase
Freeman…good hit,great glove . Strikes out way too much
Uggla…one month of hitting, five months of striking out and popping up..rally killer
Gonzalez…had one week recently hitting the ball, then 25 weeks popping up foul,striking out,tantrum
Heyward…six months of no hits,strikes out alot, bounces into 4-6-3 double plays
Total results…watching the playoffs on TV next week
See you in six months,Bravos!
Felix
September 22nd, 2011
6:42 pm
The Braves made the Mets’ Capistrano look like Warren Spahn while the Cards offense is treating him like the average pitcher he is and kicking his butt.
IliiniDawg
September 22nd, 2011
6:42 pm
Again, I’m expecting the Cards to win tomorrow night and us to lose, and then all will clearly see the Cards as having the momentum and being in the driver’s seat. I’m wondering how the young Braves will respond when they are not in the lead, but behind instead. It could be an interesting window into the hearts of these young up-and-coming stars of the future.
mjn99
September 22nd, 2011
6:43 pm
St Louis 6 mets 2 it’s over folks. Lets all just admit it nd move on. This team has no heart.
Bravos
September 22nd, 2011
6:44 pm
The Braves saw their lives pass before their eyes….and it was boring.
Phils fan
September 22nd, 2011
6:44 pm
…we may hold da braves fate in our hands. again! very funny..
Brad
September 22nd, 2011
6:47 pm
After I read this article, I was a little sad… then I read the entries from Sonny Clusters and now my life is a little less soul-crushing… and since I’m on the subject, maybe Stinky Wintes can offer a change of direction for this dumpster fire of team!
Skeezix
September 22nd, 2011
6:48 pm
Without a doubt, the huge increase in team ERA since the all star break is the #1 reason the Braves have struggled. Irene??? Huh??
After Irene, the Braves swept the Mets in that doubleheader. Other teams were affected by the same hurricane and didn’t come apart.
Phils fan(Braves Mascot on October1st)
September 22nd, 2011
6:51 pm
..woke up this morning. got myself a gun!
ijudgenot
September 22nd, 2011
6:51 pm
Ryan S
September 22nd, 2011
4:34 pm
“The difference between the braves and cards is a joke. Furcal makes an error last night and that allowed 4 runs to score I believe. The mets were up 4-3. If that was the braves, they lose. But the cards with 2 out and no one on get back to back hits from Albert and Lance and then the friese guy hits a 3 run homer. That’s what the braves lack and always lack in September and October. Clutch players”
Ryan, what Friesse did was hit an outside corner strike into the right field seats, in other words he hit the ball where it was pitched. He did not try to pull the ball. There is not one Braves starter that is deciplined enough to do that. Even Bourn who when he first came to the Braves was hiting balls over the shortsop head with regularity, but is now trying to pull everything,outside pitches included to right field. He too has dranked the Braves kool aide and now believes he is a power hitter. Too be fair most hitters if left to their own instincts will try to pull the ball in order to hit the homerun. Thats why batting over .300 is not the norm but considered special. Think about it getting something right 3 times out of 10 in any other sport or occupation would not be considered special except in “special ed” The team was allowed to be undeciplined by Cox and now by Fredi. Why do good hitters come to the Braves and suddenly forget how to hit, and why do guys who are struggling as Braves go to another team and suddenly remember how to hit. Even the simple things like moving runners over by the SF bunt or SF fly, are considered foreighn to Braves hitters. How many times have we heard Joe Simpson indirectly begging the Braves hitters to sf bunt or try to hit fly ball somewhere with runner on 3rd base and the Braves hitter not even try to sf or constantly try to pull an outside pitch and strikeout, hit pop up or hit into a double play. Simpson has indirectly critizised Fredi all year by constntly heaping praize on managers like Collins at NY and McKeon at Miami by saying things like they DEMAND certain things of their players and that the players won’t play unless it s done their way. To be honest those teams have losing records, but its because they don’t have the talent the Braves have, not because they did not have good managers. I’ve said it before , I thought Fredi would be different. Unfortunately he is BOBBY COX LITE.
SR
September 22nd, 2011
6:55 pm
Enter your comments here
M10
September 22nd, 2011
6:56 pm
I think it’s a 90% chance St.Louis wins the wildcard.The Braves aren’t hungry for it and it shows,I get having hope but at some point you gotta be honest and not waste your time watching them.
ijudgenot
September 22nd, 2011
6:57 pm
DOB, are we now editing comments from this blog by length or content?
BaseballBuff
September 22nd, 2011
7:00 pm
Just as I though. Nobody, not even the AJC sports staff, knows why Constanza is on the bench.
Rowsdower
September 22nd, 2011
7:05 pm
If this team has any heart it might be time to show it. There was a ton of talk about if the Braves go this, then the Cards need to go that to catch us. Well, they’ve caught us. Don’t let the 1 game lead fool you. We get Strasburg and the Phillies for 3. The Cards get 2 Triple A teams. The math doesn’t workout in the Braves favor.
I never thought we would be mentioned in the same breath as the Mets and Phillies epic chokes. Welcome to the club, Braves!
Rowsdower
September 22nd, 2011
7:06 pm
@ijudgenot – No kidding. That’s twice I typed out nice rants only to have them vanish like a fart in the wind. Screw this…
StingSplash
September 22nd, 2011
7:08 pm
FYI–The Mets are coming back on the Cards. Have bases loaded with one out down 6-4 with the No. 2 hitter Tejada up.
JOHN
September 22nd, 2011
7:11 pm
GIVE LOWE ONE MORE START THEN IT WILL BE OVER
Columbdawg
September 22nd, 2011
7:14 pm
YEEEEEEEEEES! 6-6. If Mets come back in this one it would crush the Cards!!!!!!!!!!!!
Frumpy
September 22nd, 2011
7:14 pm
All tied in StLouie, now David wright to bat, didnt think i would ever be cheering on David Wright to get a hit or sac fly, come on dude
Brave New World
September 22nd, 2011
7:17 pm
Well, I never thought i would cheer for Willie….
rm
September 22nd, 2011
7:18 pm
Mets up by 2!
Bravos
September 22nd, 2011
7:19 pm
METS LEAD 8-6!!!!!
Columbdawg
September 22nd, 2011
7:20 pm
8-6 Mets!
Billy Jack could fight
September 22nd, 2011
7:21 pm
i’m watching espn gamecast….nuts..i’m cheering at my laptop…not my tv
Rowsdower
September 22nd, 2011
7:21 pm
Holy shyte..the Mets hung a 6 spot in the 9th!!!
Phils fan(Braves Mascot on October1st)
September 22nd, 2011
7:21 pm
wow. rooting for the mutts.
Bravos
September 22nd, 2011
7:21 pm
Mets bring in Jesse Orasco!!!
superiorblogman
September 22nd, 2011
7:21 pm
Willie Harris is a Brave forever. If he is a Free Agent pick him up. Thanks Willie, thanks New York, thanks Mets.
Brave New World
September 22nd, 2011
7:21 pm
Wow…, thats impressive., this will definitely demoralize the Cards.., and should give all the boost to the Braves.., and let them keep the lead for 2 more days atleast
Rowsdower
September 22nd, 2011
7:22 pm
I turned the game off when it got to 6-1.
Dear God, please let Parnell close this down. PLEASE!
Phils fan
September 22nd, 2011
7:22 pm
..I guess braves fans do deserve a break.
Rowsdower
September 22nd, 2011
7:23 pm
K…1 Down!
Brave New World
September 22nd, 2011
7:23 pm
bottom part of the Cards against mets closer…
How important is that game that Kimbo walked 3 guys in front of Pujols and blew up that save? Hope Bobby Parnell guy doesn’t do that..
Texas Braves Fan
September 22nd, 2011
7:25 pm
2 out!!