Braves-Cardinals: Who holds the play-in edge? Flip a coin
Michael Bourn after a circuit clout against the Cards in May. Circuit clouts never hurt. (AP photo)
If the playoffs are a crap shoot, the newly minted play-in game is a coin flip. There’s really no handicapping the Braves-Cardinals game. There’s only “heads” or “tails.”
And yet: We wouldn’t be doing our duty if we didn’t make the attempt at determining what might (and might not) be important. So here, as the saying has it, goes nothing, even as we know full well such factoid-finding might indeed amount to nothing.
Hitting: This isn’t close. The Cardinals lead the Braves in runs, batting average, home runs and on-base percentage. The Cardinals have also struck out 99 fewer times than the Braves, which might sound like a big deal but probably isn’t. (It means St. Louis batters have whiffed, on average, .61 fewer times per game.)
The Braves have drawn 43 more walks than the Cards, but since Kyle Lohse, who has walked only 38 batters over 211 innings, is scheduled to start Friday, that nugget could be rendered just another pebble. This, however, might be of substance: The Braves entered their 162nd ranked last among National League teams in hitting with runners in scoring position; the Redbirds were fourth.
If the game comes down to a manufactured run, the Cardinals have the better track record. But the most famous play-in game ever — Yankees 5, Red Sox 4 in 1978 — was decided by a three-run homer hoisted by a No. 9 hitter who’d hit four home runs over 162 games, which is how Bucky Dent came to be handed a new middle name by bitter Bostonians.
Starting pitching: Lohse won 16 games and finished with the league’s fifth-lowest ERA. But he’s not a knock-the-bat-out-of-your-hands pitcher. (He had 143 strikeouts in those 211 innings.) Because of his control, his WHIP (walks/hits per innings pitched) is excellent (1.09), and opponents have hit only .239 against him. That said, the Braves did muster five earned runs on nine hits and two homers in their one outing against Lohse, who took a no-decision in a game his team would lose 10-7 here on May 30.
The Braves haven’t lost a Kris Medlen start since May 23, 2010. His WHIP is a flyspeck 0.91, and opponents have hit .208 against him. But the Cardinals, as fate would have it, have hit him pretty well. (Albeit when he was a reliever.) In 5 2/3 innings against him this season, they managed six hits and three earned runs. But the most recent of those games was Memorial Day.
In a one-game setting, you’d have to give the edge to the man who never loses, but it must be noted that, in 2007, San Diego started Jake Peavy, who would win the Cy Young Award that year, against Colorado’s Josh Fogg, who finished the season 10-9 with a 4.94 ERA. The Rockies won the play-in game 9-8 in 13 innings, neither starter figuring in the decision. But Fogg did yield one fewer earned run (five) than Peavy (six).
Relief pitching: This one isn’t close, either. The Braves finished with the league’s second-best bullpen ERA, the Cardinals with the 10th-best. The Braves’ closer is Craig Kimbrel, whose regular season has been of historic proportions. Kimbrel struck out more than half the batters he faced (116 of 231), and according to Eric Seidman of FanGraphs, no pitcher with 30 or more innings in a season has ever come close to that staggering rate.)
Kimbrel has blown only three saves in 42 chances. The Cardinals’ closer is Jason Motte, who’s good (41 saves, seven blown saves), but he’s not Kimbrel. Nobody is.
But we return to the 2007 play-in: The Padres handed Trevor Hoffman, who was the career leader in saves until Mariano Rivera passed him last season, the ball with a two-run lead in the bottom of the 13th. He faced five Rockies. One walked. Three got hits. One of the best ever had his worst night and blew the postseason for his team. It can happen.
Which is pretty much the point: In any one baseball game, anything can happen. It never hurts to be at home, which the Braves will be, and it helps if you catch the ball, and the Braves have made 20 fewer errors than the Cardinals. And it says a little something that the Braves took five of six from St. Louis this season and were, on the record, a better team over the six-month season. Still, you could outrank the opponent in every category from WHIP to BABIP, and if you have a bad day at the ballyard you can lose.
As much as we like to believe sports serve to measure skill and will, they don’t always. Sometimes it comes down to luck. Sometimes you just need to call “heads” and be blissfully right.
By Mark Bradley
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137 comments Add your comment
Paul Wehner
October 3rd, 2012
12:35 pm
First! (Note to my boss: this is on my lunch hour!)
Oh Dear
October 3rd, 2012
12:36 pm
We’re boned.
greydawg
October 3rd, 2012
12:37 pm
First!
Brendan
October 3rd, 2012
12:53 pm
Braves hold the edge. Chipper will hit a walkoff 9th inning HR to propel the Braves into the next round, and exact a fair measure of revenge on the Redbirds for last season’s debacle. So let it be written. So let it be done!!
Bobby Coccyx
October 3rd, 2012
12:59 pm
The only hope is if the Braves’ pitching staff throws a shut-out.
Heisenberg
October 3rd, 2012
1:07 pm
What a coincidence, Bucky Dent and Aaron Boone have the same middle name.
Ostrich Racer
October 3rd, 2012
1:10 pm
I hope Fredi gives Chipper tonight off, too. He has obviously been hurting at the plate — he’s not striking out, but he’s not driving anything, and that seems like sore legs. A move out of the cleanup spot couldn’t hurt, either.
Heisenberg
October 3rd, 2012
1:10 pm
Wonder what Bobby Valentine’s middle name is these days?
Peter
October 3rd, 2012
1:10 pm
Cards are the Champs until they get Knocked out……. They are a better pressure team in my opinion…….But that is just an opinion for sure.
Mistakes have been costly for the Braves…… Our errors are way down compared to last year, that is a huge plus..the base running mistakes cannot bite us if we are to win in the post season.
Medlen can hold them down…..but the bats are my biggest worry for the Braves. If they score 3-4 runs I think the braves win this one with the bullpen holding down the end of the game.
Otis
October 3rd, 2012
1:11 pm
We’ll get our customary one run, but unless the score is 1-0, we lose.
dawgnation1
October 3rd, 2012
1:11 pm
All of y’all are so freaking pessimistic. Have you seen Medlen pitch? You’ve just got to put up a couple of runs against an above average pitcher and the braves are in the next round. MB, what’s your pick?
Ivan Drago
October 3rd, 2012
1:11 pm
You vill lose
Mark Bradley
October 3rd, 2012
1:13 pm
Kudos, Paul.
gtt
October 3rd, 2012
1:14 pm
I’d rather it be anyone but the Cardinals. They seem to have our number lately.
UGADawg16
October 3rd, 2012
1:17 pm
Yep, right on MB, and that’s what stinks about a one game play-in. Give it at least 3 games don’t ya think? 3-5-7 – kinda makes sense doesn’t it?
Matt Ryan's Dad
October 3rd, 2012
1:22 pm
What’s the over/under on Medlen pitching a perfect game?
Hankie Aron
October 3rd, 2012
1:30 pm
gtt- Did you read the article? The Braves won 5 of 6 from the Cards this year. And we haven’t played them lately so it would be hard for them to be holding our number don’t you think?
joet
October 3rd, 2012
1:30 pm
!.Bourne 2. Prado 3. Heyward 4. Freeman 5. Jones 6. McCann 7.Uggla 8.Simmons 9.Medlen. That should be the line up.
WhoCares?
October 3rd, 2012
1:31 pm
Good column. Hard to forecast, and a single game like this can go either way. Still, I’ll take the home team and Medlen’s streak.
Hankie Aron
October 3rd, 2012
1:31 pm
UGA- I agree
BravesFan79
October 3rd, 2012
1:33 pm
Go Braves!
Sonny Clusters
October 3rd, 2012
1:43 pm
Flip a coin. Tip a cap.
Brock
October 3rd, 2012
1:50 pm
Ostrich- Chipper will definitely get the night off cause they’re playing right now
Mr C
October 3rd, 2012
1:52 pm
Has Medlen ever pitched in a playoff game with so more pressure? Playoffs are a different can of worms. It’s win or go home. I won’t be surprised if both pitchers don’t make it past the 5th inning
Braves-Cardinals: Who holds the play-in edge? Just flip a coin – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Sports News
October 3rd, 2012
2:05 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Gordon
October 3rd, 2012
2:07 pm
What an absolutely horrible playoff format. The Braves spent 162 games proving they are better than the Cardinals, and it could all be wiped out in one game. There is a reason baseball determines who advances to the next stage in 5 and 7 game series. It is because anything could happen in one game.
Everything is done for money in every sport now. This is awful.
Stinger 2
October 3rd, 2012
2:08 pm
The Braves under the leadership of Fredi G. have won 93 games regardless of what the anti-Gonzalez fans think about him. Yes, he has made some mistakes as all Managers do and he is not perfect. The team will be ready to give its best shot. Win or lose the real Braves fans will tip their caps to Fredi and the Braves.
Ron H.
October 3rd, 2012
2:10 pm
This play-in game will hopefully be a good game. I seriously doubt it’s going to be easy, though. The Cards are a tough team, even if we did beat them 5/6 times this year.
Sure hope Medlen can keep the streak going and get us through to the next round.
Hudson, get ready!
joe
October 3rd, 2012
2:15 pm
Braves win it 2-1
Larry Copeland
October 3rd, 2012
2:15 pm
Phillies fan here… so I’m not officially rooting for either team… but I think it would be nice if Chipper got one more good run through the playoffs… and besides that, the Cards have been there enough times lately. Anyway, two things the author didn’t mention are intangibles… the Cards are hot (10-4 in their last 14), and hot teams are always more dangerous at this time of year. On the other hand, this is a “revenge” opportunity for he Braves, after the Cards snatched the wildcard from them last year at the very end. Should be a great game.
Scoots
October 3rd, 2012
2:16 pm
“I’d rather it be anyone but the Cardinals. They seem to have our number lately.”
Actually, if you’d read the column, you’d know that the Braves won 5 of the last 6 against them.
JW
October 3rd, 2012
2:17 pm
Medlen seems to have the mentality of, “Whatever, it’s all good.” I am not concerned with him regarding pressure. As a matter of fact…I bet he’s chomping at the bit to get to the big stage. It’s time for him to go National!
RNB
October 3rd, 2012
2:18 pm
Still have a hard time trying to understand a one game wild card playoff. I say cut a few games off the regular season and make this series a two out of three.
sidslid
October 3rd, 2012
2:18 pm
Playoffs are littered with pitchers having outstanding regular seasons but stinking in the playoffs. Maddux losing Game 5 to Cleveland in 95 and Philly in 93, The unhittable Dennis Eckersley against a one legged Kurt Gibson. Sub 1 era Hammond getting lit up by the Giants.
I am glad it’s Lohse. If I was Matheny, I would start a lefty. Braves must have close to a .700 record against righties, because we lose to almost every lefty. Matheny gets demerits for not setting up his rotation to have Garcia start.
Scoots
October 3rd, 2012
2:20 pm
I think Medlen will do fine under pressure. He doesn’t appear to be rattled easily
gtg052a
October 3rd, 2012
2:21 pm
Anyone know when game time is going to be posted? Want to be there but can only make it if it’s a night game.
Quack Quack
October 3rd, 2012
2:24 pm
@ Paul Wehner….Note from your boss:You’re Fired!! (just kidding)
Flip of the coin Heads I win, Tails you lose….
GO BRAVES!!!
Weyman C. Wannamaker Jr. (A Great American)
October 3rd, 2012
2:24 pm
Who holds the edge? The team Mark Bradley doesn’t pick to win.
Quack Quack
October 3rd, 2012
2:29 pm
@JW….I’m with you. I believe Kris has what it takes to do this game right. He’s smart, and studies a lot. I bet he knows each player coming Friday, and everything about their at bats. He will slice and dice the Cards, wait and see.
GO BRAVES!!!
Maxwell the free-range chihuahua
October 3rd, 2012
2:36 pm
you dummies know how this goes down…6-0 cards…braves, like the dawgs and the falcons, collapse on the big stage…prove me wrong…
Sonny Clusters
October 3rd, 2012
2:37 pm
“This is a test of the Baseball Blogging System. The bloggers of your area in voluntary cooperation with the AJC and other authorities have developed this system to keep you informed in the event of a little stalker fella posting right after a Clusters. If this had been an actual emergency, you would have been instructed to turn off your computers and hope the little busy body would go away.”
Mr C
October 3rd, 2012
2:38 pm
@ RNB ….. how does a two out of three game format work? You don’t expect the division winner to wait 5 days before playing the winner of the wild card play in game? I don’t think any MLB team goes three days without playing a game during the entire season!!!
I think the format makes it more important to win your division.If you want to avoid the one game wild card, win ur division.
Now What
October 3rd, 2012
2:45 pm
UGGGGGGGG!
These stats make me scared to death! Do we win for Chipper and go on a run! I know that we will not die or give up no matter what! I just hope MedDog is on his game like he always is!. Do we take muscle from how Wainwright dismissed us? It would be good if we did! I would love to see us get on this run and win 13 games…….Can we do it? Can we do it? We are about to find out on Friday night!
Sonny Clusters
October 3rd, 2012
2:45 pm
Here are some thought starters that will make the pajamas feel a little tight around the neck. 93 wins is pretty good. 97 wins gets you in the playoffs without a one game play-in. All-Star second baseman don’t hit .207 most of the season. When they get “hot” like “hot-hitting Dan Uggla” that goes up as high as .217. Uggla has been a huge hole in the lineup just like Hanson has been a hole in the rotation. True fans can see this just like us unworthy fans who also like to see good baseball and pennants flying. We was a Braves fan when the little stalker was still in baby pajamas and well before he graduated to the Braves winnie the pooh style. Now, how long will it be? Tick, tock, tick, tock, tick . . . .
Dr. Feelgood
October 3rd, 2012
2:45 pm
Post season is different….There is going to be alot of preasure on Medlin for this one game…Remember last year, game five must win against Doc Holliday…Cards won! and then you have Game six of the world series.down to there last strike…(just see David Freese)…..Loshe was there as well who started game one against the Phills….This is a good Cards team that lost alot of close games this year….
Now What
October 3rd, 2012
2:46 pm
My post got ate by the blog filter and I did not say anything negative or bad……now I am sad!
Stinger 2
October 3rd, 2012
2:50 pm
There are some (particularly one) AJC bloggers who think they are so comical that they spout silly garbage thinking that it will enhance their status with a few fellow posters who like such drivel. Such is life for these poor little fellows who don`t have anything better to do. Go Braves!
Stinger 2
October 3rd, 2012
2:54 pm
The comical blogger has struck again. This time funny boy is attacking Uggla and Hanson for the umteenth time. Who will be next? Maybe Fredi again? I would not be surprised.
David Puddy
October 3rd, 2012
3:19 pm
Clearly, the Braves have the edge with Medlen. If he pitches like he has been the Braves need….maybe 2 runs. If he’s off a bit and Lohse is pitching well……it’ll be a good game. I’m from St Louis and have lived in ATL for awhile……I’m good either way.
Dr. Feelgood
October 3rd, 2012
3:24 pm
I’m a Cards fan from St. Louis reading this article…..I just wanted to see what Braves fans were saying about the big game on friday night……..This is going to be a difficult game for my Redbirds to win…………I have watched them play almost every game this year….They have lost a ton of one run games and extra innings games as well..I still dont like our chances for this one game play in..
HUH?????
October 3rd, 2012
3:52 pm
“Braves-Cardinals: Who holds the play-in edge?”
Cards. They’ve been here before. Hey, just check out last year.
VinceVanGo
October 3rd, 2012
3:56 pm
I hoping for an ending like “The Natural” where an aged, hurting hitter(Chipper) knocks one up into the lights to end it, and then sails off into retirement. Wouldn’t that be great? Go Chipper! Go Braves!
Ron
October 3rd, 2012
4:32 pm
I think we need to just throw out what happened last year and even earlier this season. The Braves are playing at home, they have been winning lately, yes the offense is a concern but that is with every team, Cardinals included. The Braves have one of the best pitchers going for them, a capable offense and an excellent bullpen, let’s play ball!!
kreedham
October 3rd, 2012
4:39 pm
The Cards have our number, just remember last year, etc, etc…..Geez folks, it’s not the same team, they have new players, we have new players, they have a new manager, they don’t have Pujouls…it’s different every year. Now it certainly helps to have players that have played in the playoffs before but that’s about the only thing going for them.
Now What
October 3rd, 2012
4:44 pm
@HUH?????
So that means its our turn to be the “hot” team in right? Come on its our turn right?
Are we hot enough?
Do we have that extra incentive to push us?
We have a Chipper, and something tells me the old man is going to leave all 40 years on the field every game……
Jim
October 3rd, 2012
4:53 pm
I live in St Louis now but have been following the Braves since the early 70’s. I believe it was on Channel 17?? Not sure now, but it was a while back. My daughter grew up the biggest Dale Murphy fan. I just hate the one game format but it will be exciting for sure if it is tight in the late innings.
Love the Cards but the Braves also. Best of luck to Chipper.
Skip Caray from the Grave
October 3rd, 2012
5:12 pm
Braves Win!
Ernie Sr.
October 3rd, 2012
5:13 pm
You are so right Skip
drerw
October 3rd, 2012
5:14 pm
Braves lose this game – no doubt about it. Can’t hit a lick…
T
October 3rd, 2012
5:24 pm
The Braves should be honored that the defending World Champions are coming to Atlanta to end their season.
Go Cards!
True Braves Fan
October 3rd, 2012
5:37 pm
Ok, All you Cardinal Tools, except Dr. Feelgood, and NON-Braves fan dressed in Braves clothing, do us all a favor, go ramble your stupid remarks elsewhere. Let us TRUE Braves fan have chance to root for our team without reading stupid idiotic posts about something that has not even happened yet. I did not know people could read the future and already see the game. No???? Ohh, then you dont know the score yet. This team has been just as hot as the Redbirds. It is not like we have lost 9 out of 18 games like last year. We are 10-4 the past 14 games just like the Cards. So, we have a great shot at this. I am not going to be at the game, but I promise you I will be rooting just as hard for the Braves like I was there. I think they can go far in the playoffs. They definately have the Talent and the Leadership to do it. We have arguably the best Pitcher in baseball taking the mound. I like my chances anytime Meds is in the Game. So, all TRUE braves fans, this is a call out to everyone to rally around our team. WE can win this. We just need the support. All the naysayers, watch TLC or Martha Stewart and leave the Braves watching to all us TRUE fans. Go braves. Lets go get a Championship!!!!!!!!!!
Nativebird
October 3rd, 2012
5:41 pm
This 1-game raffle ticket excuse of a playoff game is a Cancer on the face of baseball. Bud Selig is a joke and should be Ashamed of himself.
Deep Six Hanson
October 3rd, 2012
5:43 pm
That is three guys that I never want to see in a Braves uniform again: Kawasucki, JJ, and Tommy Hanson.
Hillbilly D
October 3rd, 2012
6:04 pm
October baseball is about pitching and starting pitching, in particular. If one of the starters struggles early, that’s probably going to determine the winner.
Nativebird @5:41
Amen to that.
Dum-Bass
October 3rd, 2012
6:19 pm
Test Test Testing 123
Ctrim
October 3rd, 2012
6:28 pm
Glad the wild card game is on a Friday instead of a Monday!
Dum-Bass
October 3rd, 2012
6:28 pm
Wow, it worked. Last 2 or 3 msgs. on here this week never posted. Ghosts and goblins out early for Halloween. Now, I am amazed that this article did not state the one glaring fact that tells me the St. Louis manager is about as inept as FG. The Braves have scored 456 runs against RHs and 239 vs LHs, as of yesterday. What manager in his right mind would not start a lefty? Some will say, when they check, that the Cards are almost as bad, but if you will note they have a much lower number of ABs against lefthanders than the Braves. Teams found out real quick they could throw lefties against the Braves and stand a much better chance of winning. It’s crazy but I am sure the Braves do appreciate the advantage!
Dum-Bass
October 3rd, 2012
6:32 pm
“ctrim” BUT the Braves do play the second game of the NLDS on Monday, so they better be sure to win that first one on Sunday(if they get past the wildcard play in game). The next 3 (if there’s 3) will all be in Washington.
Sonny Clusters
October 3rd, 2012
6:33 pm
Well, five minutes is not a record but it is pretty quick for a little stalker to show up and post about a Clusters. We think somebody may be obsessed with us and that is a little scary because we don’t know if someday he may show up at our house and want to talk to our mama about us.
oldfart
October 3rd, 2012
6:35 pm
A scheduled single game playoff, play-in, whatever, is simply not baseball and I totally agree that it is the equivalent of a coin flip. Baseball would have a better commissioner if they dug up Kenesaw Mountain Landis and propped him behind a desk.
afan 65
October 3rd, 2012
6:45 pm
Past records don’t mean crap in a one game play-off..so forget the head to head stuff. Luck plays a big part on a one game crap shoot. The Baseball God’s didn’t come up with the one game play-off it was the $$$ MLB that come up with the stupid one and done crap.
I pray BRaves win are its another 2011…..
jj
October 3rd, 2012
6:48 pm
Bud the commissioner is a idiot for this play off system.
HUH?????
October 3rd, 2012
6:53 pm
Now What
I’ve just seen the Braves fall too many times to put too much stock in them. If they win, they’ll face an uphill battle with Nats pitching. The Nats have been cold lately so who knows?
The Braves have won the season series against the Cards but both teams are warm right now. Medlen is the guy I want to see out there in this situation.
HUH?????
October 3rd, 2012
6:54 pm
“Bud the commissioner is a idiot for this play off system.”
Amen to that. Not sure what a two team wild card game is supposed to prove. The Braves have earned the right to go to the playoffs.
Cletus Van Damme
October 3rd, 2012
6:56 pm
,,The most impressive thing I’ve ever seen in my years of following baseball (I’m 40, first started watching the Braves back in 1982)…are the 2012 Oakland A’s.
The A’s have the second lowest payroll in baseball ($55 mil). They traded their top two starting pitchers (Gio Gonzalez, who won 20 games for Washington and Trevor Cahill) and closer (Andrew Bailey) from 2011 during the off season. Their team is made up of a bunch of no name rookies and discarded spare parts from other teams.
Simply put, they were expected to lose over 90 games in 2012…not win over 90 games.
On June 30th, they were 37-42, 13 games behind Texas. Their September schedule was brutal (from September 3rd, the played 7 games against the Angels, 7 games against Texas, 3 games against the Yankees, 3 games against the Orioles, 3 games against Detroit…with 6 games against Seattle). Other than those 6 games against Seattle (they went 6-0 against the Mariners…games that contending teams have to win late in the season)….they played a hell of a stretch (went 12-11 in that tough stretch against non-Seattle teams) to finish the season.
After beating Texas today to win the Division…the A’s finish the regular season 94-68 (same record as us). The A’s had to battle against Texas and the Angels in their division..while we only had to battle Washington.
If the Yankees lose tonight…the A’s will have home field in the AL playoffs. Talk about a team playing the right way! Living in San Francisco…I get to watch a lot of A’s and Giants games (follow the Braves on the MLB Ticket on Direct TV). All year, the A’s bust it and give it their all.
The A’s starting rotation has been 5 rookies since Brandon McCarthy got hit in the head a few weeks back. 5 rookies in the starting rotation! Billy Beane deserves all the “Moneyball” accolades he’s received. Trades, injuries, losing Bartolo Colon to steroid suspension…..should have spelled disaster for the 2012 A’s. Simply an amazing effort….a great year.
Alaska Braves Fan
October 3rd, 2012
6:58 pm
A one-game playoff, or play-in, is just wrong in this sport. Mark is absolutely correct; anything can happen in one game for any reason. Whether we win or lose, it won’t be a good measure of which of the two teams is better. Only a series can give a reasonably good account of that. For this purpose, if MLB is going to have two wild cards – which they shouldn’t! – a minimum of a three-game playoff should be used.
ABF
IlliniBrave
October 3rd, 2012
7:08 pm
It seems no one actually involved with baseball, outside of the commissioner’s office, likes this coin-flip game. Hoepfully this, and the stupid idea of making the All-Star game determine home-field for the World Series, will both be seen for what they are – cheesy gimmicks – and canned. I’ve lost a ton of respect for Bud Selig over these two idiotic changes to the game.
BillEGoat
October 3rd, 2012
7:43 pm
I predict only that there will be a total of three runs scored in the game, somebody will win 2-1 or 3-0, no telling who. I respect McCann’s performances over his career, but I HOPE Ross gets the start–McCann’s health is probably worse than the Braves have admitted,
ATLIEN
October 3rd, 2012
7:51 pm
Seems as if the Braves bats fall asleep as soon as the postseason arrives. But they better not choke or lose this home game. I have faith and I have confidence that they will find away to get it DONE!!!!
Space Monkey
October 3rd, 2012
8:00 pm
If the Braves get in trouble at any point in the game, Fredi needs to bring in Kimbrel. In a game like this, we have to stop any bleeding, fast. Bases get loaded with Cards in the fourth with one out, you bring in Kimbrel. Screw that closer nonsense, use that weapon when the game in on the line. This is not a normal game. It’s a nine inning war. You have to manage every inning like it’s a game in a series. You win the inning, you lose the inning, or you hold the other team to a draw. This game is going to be brutal.
North Campus Trash
October 3rd, 2012
8:13 pm
More gimmick than a game with a ridiculous starting time. But I’ll be there nonetheless.
Seether Fan
October 3rd, 2012
8:24 pm
I’m sure Medlen will hold Cardinals to 3 or fewer runs. If Braves score 4 or more runs I like their chances.
P B Orr
October 3rd, 2012
8:32 pm
I lived in St Louis for 6 years. They are some of the finest people I ever met in the USA. They are tremendously committed fans. People there still remember Big Red, the St Louis football Cardinals, who were usually terrible. But they have no bitterness. They took their Super Bowl win with as much grace as they accepted their Denkinger-generated World Series loss. They do not gloat, they do not show up on the opponents’ blogs to make asses of themselves (listening Choke?). I find it almost impossible to root against them, but I am a Braves fan. I loved it there, but grew up here.
The only chance we have is to be bold – steal bases, make runs, play Herzog-style small ball.
If we fail, a better baseball place will go in our stead. St Louis is baseball royalty. In some ways, even more so than the Yankees, the way the House of Bourbon is better than the House of Lancaster.
PS – W. T. Sherman is buried in St. Louis. Get mad, Braves, get mad.
-drl
Redbird88
October 3rd, 2012
9:08 pm
Nice post above STL is baseball town USA. Also we have very knowledgeable fans as well so speaking to the point of why we are not starting a lefty, Jaime Garcia does not pitch well on the road. Loshe is having a CAREER year with 18 wins so that’s why he is pitching. But in this sudden death playoff it will be all arms on deck and Medlen is long overdue for a loss. “12 in 12″ let’s go CARDINALS!!!!
P B Orr
October 3rd, 2012
9:13 pm
Don’t get too excited RedBird88. This Medlen dude is a bullet(Bob)proof throwback. See you next year
Keith
October 3rd, 2012
9:40 pm
Going to be tough facing off agains the defending champs.
But here are the Braves’ strengths:
Better pitching (barely)
Best bullpen in the MLB
Best defense in the NL
Chipper’s last postseason
I say we win 2-1. GO BRAVES!
Redbird88
October 3rd, 2012
9:43 pm
P B Orr: Medlen’s last loss was on 5/23???? Just happens to be my birthday…..hmmmmmm….Go Cards:)
P B Orr
October 3rd, 2012
9:48 pm
Redbird88 – can we get Budweiser back from Belgium? Sorry. Say hi to Carp!
cloudodust
October 3rd, 2012
9:58 pm
1) I have the debate recording on DVR (as I did the Braves today).
2) My nightly routine is to peruse the internet before I hit the hay and get in my 2 cents if need be (I rise at 6).
3) If you flip a coin 9 times and it comes up tails 9 times straight, what are the odds on the 10th flip it comes up heads? 50-50. Go Braves.
John Leonard
October 3rd, 2012
11:52 pm
The best pitching staff in baseball(IMHO)the Braves,with an offense that is as bad as it gets.I will be as nervous as it gets,rooting for the Braves.
Wilbo
October 4th, 2012
12:34 am
Cards 5-2. Chipper contributes to the Braves downfall with either a big throwing error or a baserunning booboo.
SR
October 4th, 2012
12:41 am
Take the Cards, the Braves don’t hit with RISP and the Cards do. Cards used to this pressure, Braves aren’t. Braves have too many holes in the lineup, Card’s don’t. Love what the Braves have done this year but they have lost so many key games at home, they do not inspire confidence.
Glenn Griffin
October 4th, 2012
12:58 am
Braves win it all period.
elb Expos
October 4th, 2012
1:46 am
If the Braves get past the Cards and Expos, I like their chances in the NLCS. The Braves had a very good record in the division with the highest winning percentage of the three. East .4992, Central .4765, West .495. The Reds and Cards record was padded by having the Cubs with 101 losses and Astros with 107 losses to beat up on.
The Astros close out their status as a NL club with a loss to the Cubs! How many people came out to watch two clubs with over 100 losses? 27,606!
jdawg
October 4th, 2012
2:32 am
I am so nervous about this game
Bradley Curse
October 4th, 2012
2:40 am
screw Chipper walkoffs and stuff like that, I’d rather not think this team, which has more wins than the Cardinals, can be knocked out by one swing of the bat … Braves need to score about 5+ in the early going and add on in the late innings. Take a cue from the A’s and win the game in convincing fashion
John Leonard
October 4th, 2012
2:46 am
Curse: All good,but how are the Braves going to score 5 runs?If they get 3 I’d be happy.
Stinger 2
October 4th, 2012
4:37 am
Wilbo: Ugly comment about Chipper. Do you want to bench him for the play in game? Sounds like you have a vendetta agains him.
ChipperisGod
October 4th, 2012
4:40 am
@True Braves Fan
Thank you. I’ve had it up to here with the pessimists on the blog that have come crawling out of their holes. If that’s your attitude towards this game then don’t watch it. Don’t pay attention to the Braves if you’re just going to say that we’re going to lose automatically and sending out these bad negative vibes. Yes, we’ve had bad postseasons, a lot of them. But guess what? This is a new year. A new team that is for the most part, healthy. We have the best pitcher in the game going Friday. We have an offense that is capable of putting up some runs (although they’ve been struggling recently), and we have a great bullpen. And guess what, on the offensive side? Everyone starts over, starts fresh. And they get to do it at home with the city behind them.
We have a team that is going to be FIRED up to play in front of the 50,000 people coming to Turner Field. And I will be there chopping my butt off supporting my team for all three+ hours of this game no matter what happens. True Braves Fan is right, we’ve been playing great ball lately and have taken care of business down the stretch.
Some things concern me such as the offense, but if they can just scrape together some runs, we can do this. I really believe we can. We smacked Lohse around before, that means we can do it again. This team has its flaws, but I think we’ve got a good shot to take down the Cards. I think the Cards’ offense is scary, and Lohse is a good pitcher. But their bullpen is vulnerable. We just need to get a lead going into the seventh. If we can do that, even if it IS a 1-0 lead, you’ve got to like our chances with our shut down bullpen. If we take the same approach we took against Gio a few Sundays ago, we’re golden. That was championship caliber offense right there. Working the count, and then busting through. A slow burn forcing one of the best pitchers in baseball to ware down.
Anything can happen in this game, it’s crazy, insane. But if you Braves fans dressed in Negative Nancy clothing want to just continue to say we’re going to lose and what not, and whine and complain then you just shouldn’t watch nor care. And don’t any of you like JJ come back on here if we win on Friday and go, “Braves are going all the way” or something like that. A true fan sticks by his/her team no matter what, and believes. You can point out concerns and problems that the team has, but don’t just be so darn negative all the time. It’s just unfulfilling, and unwarranted. We have a good squad here that needs your support!
I am going to chop and scream until my voice is gone, my arm falls off and nothing is left but a bloody stub that bleeds Braves red, white and blue.
Go Braves!
"Chef" Tim Dix
October 4th, 2012
5:34 am
Who has the advantage?
Braves bat last.
Bob the Blogger
October 4th, 2012
6:42 am
Judging by other bloggers’ comments, many of you have as much distain for the one game play-in as I do. I’m in favor of things that allow the players to determine who the best team is, and against things that unnecessarily allow chance to determine the outcome of a game or season.
Baseball has enough chance built into it by having bloopers fall in for hits and hard hit balls hit barely foul. We don’t need all of these playoff crap shoots replacing the results of the regular season. One in eight teams used to make the playoffs; now it’s one in three. Still, I’ll be pulling for the Braves to win the coin toss.
Keith
October 4th, 2012
6:57 am
Re: chipper is god
Right on, nice post!!!
I’m there with you.
Go BRAVES!
One and done.
October 4th, 2012
7:28 am
Playoff’s for the Braves, mean’s CHOKE TIME.
BubbaDaBaller
October 4th, 2012
7:31 am
Different team and vibe this year…We’ll see how Frodo Gonzales holds up under pressure and if the team responds in like fashion…”Braves win, Braves win, Braves win!”…
Reebok
October 4th, 2012
7:48 am
Braves will go cold and fold up in the clutch, as they always do.
juice sourcer
October 4th, 2012
8:26 am
A one game playoff series is a mockery after a 162 game schedule.
Joey
October 4th, 2012
8:36 am
It is a coin toss – both 7-3 in their last 10 games. Look for our veterans to contribute little, as usual in the playoffs, and our young guys to shine. Heyward, Freeman, and Simmons will carry the day for us hopefully.
Joey
October 4th, 2012
8:49 am
“spout silly garbage thinking that it will enhance their status with a few fellow posters who like such drivel.”
***************************************************
Better not take a poll on who Braves posters like to read.
The results might make your little stinger go limp . . .
Red Clay Hound
October 4th, 2012
9:18 am
Joey LOL…
Steph
October 4th, 2012
9:19 am
From the famous words of our announcer….Braves win, Braves win, Braves win!
Brian
October 4th, 2012
9:19 am
Cardinals play in front of 40,000 every night. They are used to the bright lights. Braves simply are not. Cardinals win 5-2.
Jim Mora Sr
October 4th, 2012
9:24 am
Playoffs?!! If we can score 3 or 4 runs, we win. Medlen will hold them down, but if we go cold with the bats (our post season norm), we could easily lose 1-0 or 2-1. Here’s a vote for Ross to catch- after one and a half seasons with McCann, it’s no longer a slump. Doubt Freddie will sit him down, however. Please leave Hinske off the playoff roster!
Kashi
October 4th, 2012
9:34 am
I like the match up. It is a revenge from last year. Last year on last at bat, Freeman hit into double play and this year he hit a walkoff bomb. Tomorrow god is on our side. I see beating the crap out of Washington. Go Braves !!!
keith
October 4th, 2012
9:56 am
Baseball lost it’s mind when they went to this format and I’m from stl! braves won it fair and square and the gods handed it to cards last year but braves did a classic choke while cards came in HOT. sorry dudes but they are HOT once again and lohse has been dealing. think of medlin sitting there for a week knowing he will start a one and done, THAT is major league pressure. Who will win? No clue, it could all turn on a unlikely star or bounce of the ball. Best of luck guys, league did you no favors with this silly made up game. but hey, cards are here and are as dangerous a team as there is in the league with Carpenter just now being able to pitch. Gonna be a bumpy ride!
Joey
October 4th, 2012
10:09 am
You’re right Jim Mora Sr.
I was thinking the other night as Mac was dribbling yet another weak ground-out to the shifted 2nd baseman, and wondered, why is he in there?
At least Ross can hit a dinger, get a bunt down, hit behind a runner, and put the fear of God in potential base stealers. Mac can’t get a hit to a near-empty left side of the diamond.
There is nothing to fear about Mac anymore.
Larry
October 4th, 2012
10:11 am
The Braves need to win this one. They should be the one’s to eliminate the NATS from the playoffs..It’s time for the Braves to step up and give it there best shot.
doc
October 4th, 2012
10:14 am
and mark they hold the edge historically.
i cant remember a time where in a close situation, the cards havent had out number. that is going back to the 80’s when torre was manager. it just seems when it comes down to it, they win. they kind of knocked the winds out of our sails a few years back, in 2005, when we were streaking. their little ss hit one out and we werent the same.
they have a much better record in post season even when they didnt “deserve” to be there. they won two world series with terrible records in the last decade didnt they? anyone with even the shortest memory only has to think back one year to see how they overtook us. i am not optimistic, though hoping we can finally get the monkey off our backs with this team. ominous task especially if they break ahead of us.
FEAR
October 4th, 2012
10:22 am
Their only hope is Medlin pitching 7 or 8 scoreless innings. Then scratching out 1 or 2 runs and letting Kimbrel close the door.
jfreak13713
October 4th, 2012
10:37 am
I like the Braves chances with Medlen pitching but you to worry that at some point he has a bad game?? I hope its not until next year but for the Braves they seem to play their worst in big games. Hopefully Medlen can change that on Friday. I agree 50/50 chance either way on this game.
ChipperisGod
October 4th, 2012
10:52 am
The thing is, the Braves did well in some very clutch games. Have people already forgotten the Nats series where we swept them and how we came back 4-0 in the second game, or how we wore down the best LHP in the game in Gio Gonzalez in the third game and played championship caliber baseball? The Braves are capable of doing this again.
Bubbatunde
October 4th, 2012
10:53 am
Not worried about pressure with Medlen, to the earlier posters remark he has a “whatever dude” attitude. The pressure will be triple amped on the hitters 1) WC is winner takes all 2) it’s the Cardinals and, this one worries me more than the other 2,,,, 3) Winning it for the Chipper pressure. They better have a killer revenge seeking instinct and attitude versus any inferiority deer in head lights version we have seen too many times this year. They have to get out of the gate strong = Bourn. He is the key and I do not see him handling pressure well. You saw what the pressure did to him the 2nd half when he was facing performance in line with big contract pending – which I think is still massive pressure in a postseason setting. Coin flip indeed, but I like our chances with Prado and Freeman coming …and even Big Mac coming thru big. Uggla will be interesting to watch, as he could finally be getting hot.
Drew
October 4th, 2012
10:57 am
Who holds the edge? Vegas has this ATL -160.
Michael M.
October 4th, 2012
11:02 am
I think the Braves pull this one out and move on in the playoffs………………………don’t know how far ……………………………….I saw a news story on TV about this young woman with Cancer who gave up her chemo treatment the other day to go see Chipper’s sendoff thing………..she is a big fan of his……..well the Braves Organization heard about this and saw the picture of her holding the sign an they have sent her two tickets right behind the dugout to watch her man Chipper Jones and the Braves battle in this playoff game………………….I thought that was so cool for the Braves to do this for this young lady and I hope they win this game and make her happy…………Go Braves !
DAWG Fan In AL
October 4th, 2012
11:03 am
Gordon is correct. The single game two-team Wild Card playoff format is horrible. The purists among us baseball fans deplore the Wild Card anyway, but having only one Wild Card team – like recent years – is a natural fit when you have 30 teams scattered across 6 divisions. The old format ‘allowed’ the 4th best team (which usually has a better record than one or sometimes both of the other division winners) the chance to compete in the playoffs. The new format just defeats the purpose of having any Wild Card teams at all. I’d rather see 4 divisions and then take only the dvision winners. At least we’d go back to having pennant races again.
Not in the Cards in 2012
October 4th, 2012
11:06 am
It is pretty ridiculous and scary to think that last year the Braves choke on the final day of season when there was only 1 WC ,, to none other than the Cards. This year they outright win the WC based on the old format, but guess who’s coming to dinner when in 2012 they expand the WC?? The Cards.
Time to settle an outstanding debt.
Bubbatunde
October 4th, 2012
11:12 am
Pretty scary and ridiculous all at the same time to think that in 2011 the Braves would have gone to playoffs under new format, but instead lost out to Cards, only to find out under new format that the Cards get in, where they wouldn’t have last year. Talk about coincidence. It ain’t in the “Cards” this year boys ..time to settle an old score!!
jimmy bull
October 4th, 2012
11:20 am
This playoff format is a joke. Playoff teams spend 162 games seperating themselves from the non-playoff teams and it can all be gone in 3 hours? Wow! I am a die hard Braves fan and I hoping for a huge victory, but I have also watched this team closely enough to know that they could just as easily lay an egg and get blown out.
If Medlen can get them to the 7th with a lead I will take my chances with the Braves bullpen anytime. Someone in the middle of the lineup needs to take charge on Friday night…could it be Uggla?
Go Braves!
what of it?
October 4th, 2012
11:23 am
and that’s why a one-game series sucks. it’s a coin flip
bill
October 4th, 2012
11:31 am
winning in the playoffs now so all you can do is hang on. Had freeman doubled instead of hitting into a double play St. Louis is not the champs!
Mister Frisky
October 4th, 2012
12:36 pm
I will stick to the opinion I’ve had all year.Making the play in game is a bonus espically considering how pathetically impotent this offense is.If Wren plays it smart 2013 could be the beginning of a serious run.Chipper,Bourn,Lowe $ gone.Dont pick up the option on McCann,it’s obvious he is done.If you could get a sucker from the AL to take Uggla pull that trigger day after WS is over.Time to let the young arms do their thing,Braves have plenty of pitching.Need a MAJOR impact bat for the 3 hole.Heyward and Freeman improved but 265 not gonna cut it in the 3 or 4 hole.Ross and Johnson stay but bench needs more improvement.Braves could win Friday but that’s about it.2013 is just around the corner.
Sir Isaac Newton
October 4th, 2012
12:40 pm
Bradley,
Kimbrel has NOT blown “three saves in 42 chances,” as you reported. Kimbrel has 42 saves and 3 blown saves. That means he had 45 chances.
I take it math wasn’t your strongest subject?
PMC
October 4th, 2012
12:59 pm
Considering Loshe is really good, I’m less concerned. It’s the 4th and 5th Starters the Braves lose thier mind on.
Also, we’ve had poor offense for years. It’s nothing new, Uggla and McCann skew the SO numbers and Bourne was bad this year too in that area.
I love Medlin, I love the bullpen and I love that Chipper is in the lineup. I have confidence in Bourne, Prado, Heyward, Chipper and Freeman to provide enough offense.
Voice of Reason
October 4th, 2012
3:10 pm
To Larry Copeland, saying that the Cards have been the hot team at 10-4 recently. FYI, the Braces have gone 13-5 recently. Two losses were in “who cares mode” against the Bucs when the season was decided. I’d say the Braves are every bit as hot right now.
To those with major concerns about McCann – he’s not starting. Ross is starting and has a much higher average on the year and has thrown out (%-wise) twice as many runners as McCann.
Reality
October 4th, 2012
7:29 pm
Sorry to say the Braves will not advance. Can’t score enough. Period
P B Orr
October 4th, 2012
9:43 pm
Benching McCann was the best possible move. Look for an offensive explosion tomorrow, just from shock. Uggla in particular. The baseball gods are with us.
Bob the Blogger
October 5th, 2012
8:38 am
This play-in game is just contrived cr@p. How can a team really consider itself to be a world champion when it wasn’t even the best wild card team? The team with the 5th best record in the league can end up being the world champion.
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October 5th, 2012
1:00 pm
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