With the big win against the Marlins last night, the Braves move to within 3 games of the National League Wild Card lead with little over a month left to play. I wrote yesterday about the Braves remaining schedule being a favorable one, and today we see if Tim Hudson will be able to help out down the stretch. Can the Braves overtake the teams in front of them, and hold off potentially good teams in back of them to win the Wild Card? That's the question in today's poll, vote below.
0 recs | 35 comments
Wild Card Race
If the offense becomes a little more consistent, then we’ll be in good shape. The pitching is there, so we need to stop these periods where we score 1 run in a game and come back the next day and score 12. If we can do that, we’ll be fine down the stretch.
mdf4bravos - September 1, 2009
Even being 3 back, I almost feel as if it’s the Braves to lose. It looks like the Rockies luck may finally be wearing out. And for the life of me, I can’t see the Giants lineup in the playoffs, though their rotation would be tough. If we take 3 of 4 from the Fish I think we’ve got a really good shot.
Bobby Cocks - September 1, 2009 via mobile
We CAN do it - but will we? I hope so.
The tools are there, the pitching is there and we need a bit of help from other teams – but it will ultimately come down to their determination to not let games they should win slip away.
One thing is for certain – September is going to be interesting to watch.
NCChopper - September 1, 2009
One thing is for certain – September is going to be interesting to watch.
You should get a plane to drop thousands of flyers over Atlanta stating this….
For our remaining home games, the fans could easily give the team that extra boost of energy. My guess……the majority of peeps in Atlanta have already switched over to football.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 1, 2009
yeah
but should we make the playoffs, suddenly they were fans the whole time again
GoBravesNY - September 1, 2009
uhh…no. They will still be football fans first and foremost.
Have you been to a Braves playoff game this decade? Not exactly a full stadium or a raucous crowd. This is just football country.
DCP916 - September 1, 2009
Didn't use to be that way : (
Whenever they replay clips from playoff days from the 90s, it makes me kinda sad because I miss those days. Full crowd, more tomahawk chops than you could imagine.
McGriff the Crime Dog - September 1, 2009
Now all those peeps are cheering for Tyrone and Shatwaquious.
Football sucks dick.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 1, 2009
And when they were pre-1991 you couldn’t find any of those people at a Braves game. I’m just sayin’.
Another example: my wife was at Applebee’s in Athens last Thursday while i was at the Braves/Padres game. She was looking around the restaurant looking for the game. She said all the channels were on preseason football except one, which was on the Red Sox game.
My depressing point is that not nearly as many people care about the Braves now that winning isn’t something exciting and new.
10-4 - September 1, 2009
Yes, I have...
and I found the atmosphere most delightful.
sddbaker - September 1, 2009
Colorado is going to (continue to) drop off hard, along with the Giants. It would be nice to win the next 6 games.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 1, 2009
They’re playing the Mets, easy way to get out of a slump. But yes, now would be a good time for a winning streak. Depends a lot on Chipper, we’ve done most of this without him.
TradeAndruw - September 1, 2009
He became the expert last year at hitting for the gap (despite being injured). I would love to see him go for more singles and doubles, as opposed to taking that home-run swing all the time.
Last night was better though.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 1, 2009
A resurgent Chipper, everyone healthy, including Nate and Churchy, general dealing by the starting pitchers, including Huddy, and entire bullpen, contributions from Brooks or Kelly, and yeah we should win the wild card or have a 50-50 shot, at least.
fandave - September 1, 2009
If we can take 2 out of the next 3 against the Marlins, I think we’ll be in good shape playing our next 2 series against the Reds and Astros.
eaheckman10 - September 1, 2009
Geez, don’t say this.
Everytime we have a stretch against weak teams and get all cocky thinking we are going to make up ground, we fall on our face.
DCP916 - September 1, 2009
The Braves and Rockies schedules are of similar strength going down the stretch. The Rockies open the month with the Mets, DBacks, Reds, and Padres. In my opinion, unless the completely collapse, the Braves will have to make up most of their 3 game ground in the last 15-18 games. That being said 19 out of 31 games against losing records, should enable the Braves to still be within striking distance at any point over these last 31 games. Go Braves!
CharlotteChop18 - September 1, 2009
Not can they but will they
this team can/could have won the NL East but the offense is too inconsistent.
If they stay consistent and beat the teams they should beat they will win the Wild Card
drumzalicious - September 1, 2009
I do think we can and we might
I can’t say for sure we will, other than that because it is baseball, because well, its baseball. We really have more than enough talent to make the playoffs and it all depends on if we care enough or not. Looks like we do, so we are in it to win it. Go Braves!
GoBravesNY - September 1, 2009
Braves chances at the WC
Only being 3 games out of the wild card at this point is a blessing. Especially after losing our last 2 series, one of which to the lowly Padres. The Rocks are finally cooling off and let’s hope we time it with a series win over the fish. If Chip can get his hands going and catch up to a fastball and Bmac can get back to form after his bad series against the Phils we all know we have the rotation to make a run at this thing. Let’s all just hope we get healthy at the right time and we make a run into October. Go Braves
chippeforprez - September 1, 2009 via mobile
This isn’t really a very good poll. Can the Braves make up 3 games in a month? Well sure. Will they do so? Highly doubtful.
redwards95 - September 1, 2009
epic fail
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 1, 2009
Of course we can....
…We could also win the NL East. It’s baseball, and well, it ain’t over till it’s over.
Obviously, we will have to play at a high level to do so. The potential is there. We’ll just have to see how it plays out. If they don’ make it to the postseason, it won’t be because they aren’t “gritty” enough, or aren’t “determined” enough, or don’t “want it” enough, or because they “don’t know how to win”, despite what Joe Morgan or Steve Phillips make think.
If they do make to the postseason, with our pitching, I like our chances as well as any other team’s.
sddbaker - September 1, 2009
……….If we don’t make the post-season, those reasons are actually pretty spot-on. We should have AT LEAST 74 Wins right now, if not more.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 1, 2009
So which is it?
Not “gritty” enough?
Not “determined” enough?
Don’t “want it” enough?
or “don’t know how to win”?
It would be great if you could be more specific, maybe give some examples.
sddbaker - September 1, 2009
I’ll go with “Don’t want it enough.”
Because Garret Anderson doesn’t show emotion or smile.
justincredubil02 - September 1, 2009
heart wins championships
bpk228480 - September 1, 2009
winners win championships, until they don’t, and then they’re not winners any more.
Yakker - September 1, 2009
Maybe a combination of the list. Mainly losing out on games that should have been a lock, against sub-par teams. And Hohn really did cost us a few games. BUT YES, not solely Hohn. He definitely contributed though, to two very tough losses (fist bump).
And the losses add up. But we’re still in it, and we are in the position to make all that crap a moot point. It would be pretty kickass if we got a comfortable lead in the WC.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - September 1, 2009
Addendum
You missed “find ways to lose” on your list.
Yakker - September 1, 2009
oh man....
….How could I forget that one?
sddbaker - September 1, 2009
I wouldn’t question “doubtful” or probably not", but “highly doubtful”? what factors into your opinion re “highly”?
fandave - September 1, 2009
reply fail to redwards95
fandave - September 1, 2009
can they? will they?
these are two different questions. I voted to yes that “can”, but I am not 100% sure they “will”
nuftjedi - September 1, 2009
Remember
It aint over till Bob Wickman sings…
Titansfan9 - September 1, 2009
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Talking Chop to post a comment.