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
mr obvious
September 22nd, 2011
8:20 pm
this is why they play all 162
braves-phillies NLCS as it was in the begining, shall be in the end.
GO BRAVES!
Mark Bradley
September 22nd, 2011
8:23 pm
As noted at the top of this post, the Cardinals blew a four-run lead in the ninth and lost to the Mets 8-6. Rafael Furcal misplayed a double-play grounder. The Cardinals trail the Braves by two games with six remaining.
Brave Braverson
September 22nd, 2011
8:27 pm
last time i checked it was the eight and it was like 6 to 2. needless to say i needed new shorts when i checked the final after dinner. haha
go you god forsaken Braves!!!
Brave Braverson
September 22nd, 2011
8:28 pm
eighth*
Phils fan
September 22nd, 2011
8:33 pm
…if the braves lose tomm/cards win it’s back to ground zero. all the braves gotta do is beat the nationals because the phillies have forgotten how to play baseball.
SRF
September 22nd, 2011
8:35 pm
If Lowe pitches again for this squad – then I will know they are trying to lose the wildcard. I think the league paid them off to take a dive
NagoyaBrave
September 22nd, 2011
8:35 pm
Just what we needed. I hope the boys back home were watching. I turned it off when the Cards were up by four. Then later went to check the score (wishful thinking) and couldn’t believe it. Watched the archive of the 9th inning. At the start of the inning, one St Louis announcer said that catching the Braves “was a pipe dream but now reality.” The other announcer voiced concern of running the same relievers out there and eventually burning out (I wonder where else that has happened) and it was true. Couldn’t find the plate. The irony is that it was two former Braves who helped us win. Furcal for the Cards booting a sure-as-heck double-play ball and Willie Harris setting the table in the ninth and batting in the winning runs his second time up. Sweet.
Mark Bradley
September 22nd, 2011
8:36 pm
If the Braves go 3-3, Cardinals would have to win out to finish ahead of them.
Felix
September 22nd, 2011
8:41 pm
Yeah, well they’ll find a way to blow it.
SRF
September 22nd, 2011
8:49 pm
I would be amazed if the Braves could scratch out 3-3
Mark Bradley
September 22nd, 2011
8:52 pm
If you can’t go 3-3 with the postseason in the offing … you probably shouldn’t be in the postseason.
SG10
September 22nd, 2011
8:53 pm
It’s funny that three former Braves combined to give Braves the lead. Furcal with his error, Harris with the game winning hit and Acosta gets the win.
SRF
September 22nd, 2011
8:53 pm
BINGO !!!!
Wookie
September 22nd, 2011
8:54 pm
Send all your love and positive thoughts to our dear Braves. They need our support, they need to know that we are with them. Transcendentally meditate for them. Chant for them. Their feelings are hurt by all the negative impulses and energy that has been transmitted to their souls via the ether of space. Brothers and sisters, let us come together as one positive energy field, as one voice and spirit for our boys. They are down and they are worried, but we coming together as one unified love force for them, projected throughout the cosmos, can help revive their spirits, heal the wounds, and help bring us all victory in October.
Rowsdower
September 22nd, 2011
8:56 pm
Let’s not start that again, Mark. Just focus on winning 1 game tomorrow night. Rinse and repeat until the end of the season. I can’t help but think the Braves have been looking at the “if we go, then they have to go” and it caused them to press. The losses started snowballing. Just go out tomorrow with this gift from the Mets and get a damn W…
Phils fan
September 22nd, 2011
8:56 pm
…the scary thing for braves fans is Charlie Manuel. dude is nuts. he even ran hunter pence into ground. no clue on how the phils will play it. may depend how well they play vs the mets.
Ryan S
September 22nd, 2011
8:57 pm
Ok two errors in back to back nights by furcal. Who paim him off?
bucky oneil
September 22nd, 2011
8:58 pm
Tip of the cap to the Mets!
(I can’t believe I just wrote that)
Bradley
September 22nd, 2011
9:00 pm
Wow. And I thought we were chokers.
NorCalBrave
September 22nd, 2011
9:00 pm
Wonderful to see J. Reyes and R. Tejada do some damage on our behalf. Lord knows they’ve been making our life miserable all year.
SG10
September 22nd, 2011
9:01 pm
Apparently, Cards relievers are suffering from the fatigue too. They have worked as much as the Braves lately
phil
September 22nd, 2011
9:02 pm
We got our break today….better take advantage.
Sonny Clusters
September 22nd, 2011
9:07 pm
Huge win by the Mets! We was pulling for ‘em but we didn’t think they’d do it. Now, Braves . . . no more starts for Lowe. Win out. Play Constanza and score some runs. Stop all the hugging in the dugout for no reason. No more fanny patting.
Larry
September 22nd, 2011
9:22 pm
Great break!
Now it’s time to do our part…starting tomorrow night. Win tomorrow and everything really looks up. Lose tomorrow while the Cards win and we’re right back in a pickle!
Go Cubs!
Rowsdower
September 22nd, 2011
9:31 pm
I tend to stay away from hyperbole, but that was nothing short of a miracle. I couldn’t see the Braves fending off the white hot Cards with a 1 game lead, but a 2 game lead? That changes everything.
I can’t help but think of that Friday night when Kimbo gave it up to the Cards. We’re sitting on a 4 game lead with 6 to play if we simply hold onto that game. Oh well, onward and upward.
Rowsdower
September 22nd, 2011
9:32 pm
Why aren’t any of my posts showing up? This sux…
Joe Adcock
September 22nd, 2011
9:34 pm
That’s what we needed! Now come on guys, get it together and win some games!
JRW7
September 22nd, 2011
9:37 pm
Even if BRAVES make playoffs, they lose anyway! And I don’t really care anymore! It’s football season!!!!!
And Uggla Strikes Out
September 22nd, 2011
9:41 pm
The Cards just stumbled on their way to the finish line. This is where we put on the speed and never look back. If we can’t win with a 2-game lead with 6 to go, we don’t deserve to be in there.
double
September 22nd, 2011
10:01 pm
I made self promise-If Lowe on 2012 team.No baseball for me.
RaleighDawg
September 22nd, 2011
10:04 pm
Did Fucal miss the double-play grounder because he “lost it in the lights” ? Will he blame the groundskeepers and the Gods of baseball tomorrow like our leader does ?
Ben Be Brave
September 22nd, 2011
10:05 pm
Wow, thank you Mets! The Cards may really regret blowing a 6-run lead in the 9th…wow, wow, wow.
I will say this…if the Braves back into the playoffs, I want those of you here who’ve been trashing the team to quit calling yourself “fans”…what a bunch of bandwagon babies…you do know we haven’t had Tommy Hanson and Jurrgens for a month now right? Ye of little faith…
Von Trapp
September 22nd, 2011
10:05 pm
Das vunderful what das Mets have done for our life less Braves
Supes
September 22nd, 2011
10:29 pm
I hope this loss is as devastating as it was for the Braves to be 1 out away on Monday night when Kimbrel blew the save and allowed that 2 run walk off to Infante. I hope the Cards stew on it a little and lose 2 out of their next 3!
It’s the only shot the Braves have…I don’t see them going any better than 3-3 in the last six…
Never thought I’d be saying this…but thank you Mets.
Peter
September 22nd, 2011
10:36 pm
We absolutely HAVE to take advantage of this. This is a HUGE break!! Let’s rattle off five in a row and close this thing out. I think the Phillies are on vacation.
Stephen
September 22nd, 2011
10:42 pm
I bet the Phils roll over for us. They’d love to see us in the playoffs and own us like they did all season.
dkmo10
September 22nd, 2011
10:42 pm
Im so glad to see motte blow the game hahahaha he is a cocky beep may just be his personality but i dont like him walks around like he owns everything nice to them lose! One day at a time braves and start hittin!!!! Play small ball every run is important incase they didnt know we play the nats and phils nats own us pretty much we cant beat them and of course the stupid phils play like crap and let Stl back in it and they will turn it up agianst us and may cause us to miss the playoffs watch it. yea Charlie fair to the braves to put your best lineup out there yea sure ya did. These series comin up has me on egg shells all i got to say im with my brother a cubs fan this weekend!!!! lol GO CUBS GO!!!!! Hey Chicago!!! good luck braves lets do this
Dr. Phil
September 22nd, 2011
10:46 pm
I understand the pitching problem (not including Lowe, which I do NOT understand), but I don’t see why the Braves can’t hit.
Born2Buzz
September 22nd, 2011
10:47 pm
Pheeeeewwwwwwwww!!!
Maybe the off day and watching the Cardinals choke that game away will allow the Bravos to take a deep breath and relax.
As you said Mark, if they can’t go 3-3 to get in they probably don’t deserve to be in.
Braves R A Joke
September 22nd, 2011
10:51 pm
As a lifelong Braves fan, I hope they don’t make it to the playoffs. The reason being is because I love sports, and I like to see very competitive games in the playoffs for each sport, and the Braves won’t be competitive in the playoffs this year. If they do make it, its because they backed in and didn’t earn it. The Cardinals deserve the WC over the Braves because they have played with heart the past few weeks whereas the Braves fell completely on their faces.
I sincerely hope that the Braves lose out this year and really think about things. When you have a 9 game lead in the WC and a couple of weeks later you are looking at a 1.5 game lead, you should be asking yourself what the hell happened. The Braves were getting beat up by horrible teams and playing like they didn’t even care about the playoffs. I can’t stand it when teams back into the most important time of their season, and unfortunately this year it happens to be the team that I have been following since I was a young kid some 25 years ago. I am not a homer though, I will admit when my team sucks, and right now the Braves suck. Sad but true.
Braves R A Joke
September 22nd, 2011
10:55 pm
The Braves won’t go 3-3 in their final 6 games. I don’t see them winning 3 of 6 against the Nationals and Phillies. The Braves have bombed big time against both of them this year, why change now? Its not like the Braves didn’t know what was going on this whole time, so they only have themselves to blame when they are sitting at home watching real teams that don’t choke play for the World Series.
Loweser
September 22nd, 2011
11:07 pm
Braves R A Joke…you need to find another team. The Braves don’t need a fan like you…that is just dumb.
RHR
September 22nd, 2011
11:20 pm
OH EM GEE! I hadn’t heard! I checked the score at the hospital and the cards were up by 6 in 6th or 7th inning. I’ve been sad ever since …. so glad I checked the AJC before bed. I can sleep happy now! YAY METS!
RHR
September 22nd, 2011
11:23 pm
three former Braves combined to give Braves the lead. Furcal with his error, Harris with the game winning hit and Acosta gets the win.
The baseball gods have turned their lonely eyes to the Braves. Your move, boys.
wreckmaniac
September 22nd, 2011
11:54 pm
great news. The Braves didn’t play
fredde
September 23rd, 2011
12:33 am
it is bushes fault
You People Are Ridiculous
September 23rd, 2011
2:06 am
I dont understand how you “fans” can just give up on a team. There’s a reason we currently LEAD in the wild card. When two all-star pitchers: Jurrjens and Hanson (who got snubbed) go down with injuries of course things will get a little rocky. When the post season starts, everyone gets a clean slate. That’s just what this team needs. If we can at least take 2 of 3 from Washington, the Ted better be rocking against the Phillies. Get out your tomahawks and get ready for the post-season!
Tdavis
September 23rd, 2011
5:54 am
Get rid of D Lowe and get another run producing bat and try again next year. We wont win the wc. Braves have the Nats and Phillies. Cards have Cubs and Astros. Enough said.
Michael
September 23rd, 2011
6:32 am
Common Mark Bradley…you Prophet of Doom & Negativity…just because the Braves are losing DOES NOT mean they are not trying their hearts out. I was raised in Atlanta 15 1/2 of my first 18 years & lived there from 1983-1991 & with the exception of Furman Bisher (past) & Jeff Schulz & D. Orlando Ledbetter (today) “ajc” has NEVER had quality sports writers commensurate with the rest of Atlanta. Pahoa, Hawaii
Born2Buzz
September 23rd, 2011
6:54 am
To say you are a lifelong Braves fan and then to say you want this to miss the playoffs is ridiculous. You’re not a real fan. You are the joke.
I don’t care if the lose every game and back in because the Cardinals lose too. The object is to get in. Once in, everyone has the same record.