A rainy and disappointing weekend behind them, the Braves can take solace in the fact that they played some inspired baseball for over a week. They should also feel good that they will be facing one of those teams that they swept just last week -- the Mets. Extra excitement should be had knowing that no rain is forecast for at least the first two games of the series.
That 7-game winning streak helped drive the confidence of Atlanta Braves fans much higher than it had been after three previous weeks of decline. The late-season low point was reached last week with a fan confidence of just 49, but that was erased by 7 wins to the tune of a 66% fan confidence in the team this week.
While the Braves postseason hopes are still mathematically alive, their reality is less so. The Phillies are an insurmountable 8.5 games in front of Atlanta, and the Rockies are 5.5 games ahead in the wild card race. As much as we have all enjoyed the Braves' inspired play recently, it seems to be too little too late.
0 recs | 8 comments
a 17% jump…wow.
justincredubil02 - September 21, 2009
That graph is hilarious, and a dead-on graph of the 2009 season.
10-4 - September 21, 2009
I agree
Which goes to my point a few days ago that I’m not the only one polling on our current state of play/postseason chances. If we were ALL really voting on all the listed criteria for this weekly poll, our graph would be fairly steady, and not some roller-coaster-looking hootenanny.
Jareth Cutestory - September 21, 2009
hootenanny, i like it!
and it is a good thing you don’t gamble!
:)
justincredubil02 - September 21, 2009
Our season may not be over, but our playoff hopes are all-but. This series loss to the Phills has me bummed. The one thing I would change against them is that we would NEVER pitched to Ryan Howard. Whether the basepaths were empty or full. Just don’t do it! Lesson learned for next year (hopefully).
Hanson had him figured out, however, which means Joe Simpson was right all along: bust him inside.
Jareth Cutestory - September 21, 2009
Yup, Treat Howard like Bonds
I never liked the way teams pitched around or intentionally BBed Bonds. I thought this strategy was weak (similar to hack-a-Shaq). But, my stance has changed. This is exactly what we should have been doing to Howard the past few years. He absolutely kills us. His career numbers against us are the only evidence Bobby needs. I live in Philly and regularly watch the Braves/Phillies games at some local bars. Every time Howard is up, I yell, “Walk him!” Sure, I get some quizzical looks…for a number of reasons. But why risk losing the game (and more!) by pitching to a guy who can hit it out to any field in any park?
aaaaandTheBravesWin - September 21, 2009
Hopefully this September is a sneak preview of what we can expect all season next year assuming Wren does what he needs to do in the offseason (re-sign Laroche, get a new closer or re-sign either Gonzalez or Soriano, get a new manager, don’t bring back Norton, etc.).
redwards95 - September 22, 2009
Yeah, we should definitely get rid of Cox.
He’s had nothing to do with this post-AS surge.
MichaelProcton - September 25, 2009
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