Oh yeaaahhhh!!! We sit on our hands last night and pick up a half game. This makes that whole Lopez-Lee trade worth it. The Cubs owed us one and they came through. It's so close right now I can taste it, but I'm trying to temper my expectations because I know how the Braves have played lately. This roller coaster of the past few weeks is due for a dip. That's the way it's been working. We have a good series or two, then a bad series or two. Still, I like our chances (knock wood).
I'm ready for this thing to be clinched. If we win tonight, that will guarantee us a shot at a Wild Card playoff. The Padres and Giants don't play until 10pm Left Coast time, so it's a good thing it's not a school night and everyone can stay up and keep an eye on that game -- it will also be televised on MLB TV, as will the Braves game at 7:30 for all you out-of-towners.
Let's win. We need to get Brandon Beachy his first big league win tonight.
1 recs | 66 comments
Let's go Beachy!!!
Tonite would be a great time to get him a win… SF/SD is Clayton Richard v Matt Cain… That could really go either way… Imo
HansonManCrush - October 1, 2010 via mobile
Cain’s been pretty dominant recently, I see the Giants clinching tonight.
Yakker - October 1, 2010
So
if we win tonight, and SD loses at 1 am our time, how exactly does the champagne shower proceed? If I were the Braves coaching staff, I wouldn’t want the players to stay watching the Padres game in the clubhouse only to watch them win late and have the players arrive home at 4:00 am Saturday morning… But then again, what’s going to happen?
frozendesert - October 1, 2010
I’m boarding the plane to ATL right now in the Philly airport and sadly, there is a great deal of phils fans on their way with us. You TCers in Atlanta better ensure a full crowd for us this weekend. And a suggestion for our TC Meet-n-Greet, assuming a Bravos W tonight, we should gather at the Bullpen, the bar near the Ted, and watch our boys clinch with an SD loss.
JKowalek - October 1, 2010 via mobile
Good luck
On your flight! Don’t let any Philly phans puke on you!
HansonManCrush - October 1, 2010 via mobile
take a nice shit while youre there
willlinn - October 1, 2010
Go Beachy! Dominate baby!
Sparhawk - October 1, 2010
i will be in attendance tonight
and i expect the ted to be rockin. standing room tickets are the only things available online
lingsched - October 1, 2010
Can someone please tell me what station in Atlanta I can see the Bobby Cox tribute tomorrow? Thanks
SBURROUGHS - October 1, 2010
fox picked it up i believe
JKowalek - October 1, 2010 via mobile
Foxsports South has picked it up, but a special reminder for those who have DISH network, we no longer get that channel. Supposedly they are still negotiating, but as of right now, we don’t get those channels.
10-4 - October 1, 2010
I thought the national FOX channel picked it up. Could be wrong, though.
kauf67 - October 1, 2010
National FOX has the game
but the tribute will be aired on Foxsports South. Also, looking at their website, I think they’ll be streaming it online as well, which is good for those of us who don’t get FSS.
Cayla - October 1, 2010
Basically...
win and we are guaranteed at least a play in game. The only way we don’t get extra baseball somehow (meaning playoffs or at least a play in game to make the playoffs) is to get swept while San Diego sweeps San Fran. That is the only possibility that leaves both the Padres and Giants with more wins than the Braves. Any other outcome this weekend (meaning if the Braves or Giants win a single game) has us playing after Sunday.
2 wins guarantees the Wild Card (because I’d rather focus on that than how we back in with Padres losses).
Mr. Sanchez - October 1, 2010
The Padres...
have absolutely owned the Giants this season so we better take care of business. Although, the Padres are simply terrible right now.
mdhenshaw - October 1, 2010
The Giants seem to have an advantage though...
both in that they are at home, while the starters are slated as of now as…
Cain/Richard
Zito/Stauffer
Sanchez/Latos
San Fran can sneak at least one in that bunch, which means we need to win one and be in. Winning two would be much better though and guarantee the WC. We can, and should, win 2.
Mr. Sanchez - October 1, 2010
The Freak will be primed and on schedule for playoff game 1 at home
…so I’m actually kinda rooting for the Padres.
carpengui - October 1, 2010
Lincecum is 2-2 in 4 starts...
against us the last 2 years. I’ll be fine with him vs. Hudson game 1.
Mr. Sanchez - October 1, 2010
however
I agree that it would be sweet to see us win 2, Pads win all three and we can watch them battle to the death in a 1 game playoff. Either way, each team would use its best pitcher in hopes of surviving… then again, it seems like the whole vaGiants staff is pitching like an ace the past month, so who knows. Just get to the playoffs and let’s handle bidnez!
atlbravosfan - October 1, 2010
exactly
that’s what I’ve been touting. let whoever wins between them get extended even more.
nuftjedi - October 1, 2010
Also, if we can clinch tonight,...
I’d assume we rest Heyward and McCann, with Boscan getting at least one start behind the plate. Freeman would start one or two at 1st, and I wonder if we trot Glaus out to 3rd to see if the month of rest has improved his mobility.
I’d love to see a Sunday lineup of
McLouth LF
Gonzalez SS
Glaus 3B
Freeman 1B
Diaz RF
Ankiel CF
Boscan C
Hernandez 2B
Kawakami P
Mr. Sanchez - October 1, 2010
I would love to see this lineup
because the only way this happens is if we’re in
eaheckman10 - October 1, 2010
Ed Zachary
Mr. Sanchez - October 1, 2010
lol
MBL1 - October 1, 2010 via mobile
turrible, just turrible
I want to WIN on Sunday not lose.
Sir Veza - October 1, 2010
Viva los Bravos
Just Win, Baby.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - October 1, 2010
I plan on going buck wild saturday!
TCfromDubVee - October 1, 2010
If you have Dish Network, I'm sorry...
http://blogs.ajc.com/radio-tv-talk/2010/09/30/dish-network-customers-may-lose-fx-fox-sports-natgeo-over-rate-dispute/
Mr. Sanchez - October 1, 2010
Coming down to the game tonight!!
It’s gonna be soooooo crazy
TurnerTheBurner - October 1, 2010
i dont agree with gondee
we arent due for a dip..
willlinn - October 1, 2010
This
We already hit the dip in the rollercoaster, it’s all up from here all the way to the Series baby! I’ve been saying it all month, we’re just going to peak at the right time and the Phillies have to take a dip at some point soon, you can’t keep winning 80-90% of your games.
king of games - October 1, 2010
Optimism aside, I can understand where he's coming from.
It is apparent that this team has veen hanging on for dear life. We’re on our third third baseman. Lee isn’t hitting consistently. Infante has been struggling lately. Heyward is (still) banged up and needs probably another day off. None of the rest of the outfield players probably wouldn’t start on many teams in the majors… to the point that Bobby is going with the hot bat — and that’s essentially whoever had a hit lately. And with all that, it was tough sledding against the Marlins for those first two games, especially.
The GOOD news is that everybody had essentially two full days off at home. That’s a huge tonic for a run-down team. Heap actually got an extra day while Rossie was banging doubles around the yard. Getting the Phillies into town should get everyone focused. Big crowds should also. So the best thing would be a quick ‘W’, a Padres loss, and then rest everyone again before Tuesday.
carpengui - October 1, 2010
Agreed in full...
I also wonder if the relief of the pressure of having to “not blow it” helps how they play as well.
But if we can clinch and not have to play Monday or Tuesday, we wouldn’t play for 3 days (Thursday is game 1 for the non-Phily series) and that should help our tired arms starting and in the bullpen. It should help Heyward, Lee and Heap and other bats get some rest, and if our medical staff is any help hopefully some rehab/rejuvenating stuff. It could also let us play more of the bottom end like Glaus, McLouth, Diaz, Ankiel, and Hinske to get the some live at bats before the post season, maybe helping one of them get hot.
If we are hitting, we know the potential is there for the pitching to succeed when they get 4+ runs. Lowe and Hanson have been dealing, so if Hudson’s last start are an indication he’s back to mid season form, and our bullpen stays strong the only question remaining is can we score that 4+. If we can Glaus could take back 3B and slug/get on like he’s capable, that’d be a huge boost to the depleted lineup. Combine that with a hot Heyward, normal Heap, return to normal Lee, and then the other guys getting on at a decent clip for those 4 to drive in, and we have the tool to make a run. I’m not sure we actually do it, but the tools to make a run and get hot for a month is there (give us our May bats and watch out).
Mr. Sanchez - October 1, 2010
Thursday would be great! Lazy journalism of me not looking that up – I knew the Phils were Wednesday and Monday was reserved for one-game playoffs, so… I assumed.
carpengui - October 1, 2010
I think your sentence still works though...
if you assume we’d be playing in San Fran. Then it would be two full days at home with the third as a travel day.
Mr. Sanchez - October 1, 2010
If we clinch tonight how would we set up the playoff rotation?
I would think we may let Hanson throw a 2-3 innings on Saturday th 2nd so he can go on normal rest game one on the 7th. Then we could let Huddy and Lowe pitch a couple innings both on Sunday to keep them tuned up for starts on the 8th and the 10th with Hanson then able to go Hanson on three days or Beachy on the 11th then one of Lowe or Huddy on normal rest on the 13th.
Or do we let Hanson throw a few on Saturday and Huddy a few on Sunday and rest Lowe completely so he can pitch game one and game four on three days rest with one of Hanson or Huddy available for two games on normal rest?
Or do we just let Beachy throw game four in either situation and keep everyone on regular rest?
Do we let our main relievers put in some work over the weekend to keep them sharp or do we see how much we can get out of Martinez and Kawakami and rest everyone else?
bbxxj - October 1, 2010
I'd assume Hanson goes full on Saturday...
if we win and the Pads lose Friday, then maybe limit him to 100 pitches, but otherwise let him go as normal. For the NLDS you’d have a set of ….
Game 1 Hudson
Game 2 Hanson
Game 3 Lowe
Game 4 Hudson on short rest
Game 5 Hanson on normal rest
with that in mind, I’d consider leaving Beachy off that roster. You may want him to get a taste of the playoffs if he would start in the NLCS, but otherwise we could use Dunn as an extra situational lefty in his spot instead.
Mr. Sanchez - October 1, 2010
I like it...
Although, with the way that Lowe is pitching…I’d consider flopping Huddy and Lowe…
/ducks head as TCers hurl things things in my direction
Jman781 - October 1, 2010
Or a 4-man rotation
1- Hudson
2- Hanson
3- Lowe
4- Jurrjens
5- Hudson
TurnerTheBurner - October 1, 2010
I don't feel comfortable
Pitching JJ. Not in the first round at least.
Jman781 - October 1, 2010
let's just hope we don't even need to worry that far
nuftjedi - October 1, 2010
I like the way you think.
Jman781 - October 1, 2010
So if we win
And the Padres are in the 2nd inning when our game concludes, and they go on to lose, we won’t see an on-field celebration:-(
E-Lizz - October 1, 2010 via mobile
True
But if we both win, a win tomorrow would let us have an on-field celebration. Selfishly I’m really hoping that’s what happens.
-InsertWittyNameHere- - October 1, 2010 via mobile
I have a wedding tomorrow so I’m keeping my fingers crossed for tomorrow. The girlfriend’s definitely gonna yell at me for checking my phone the entire time.
McGriff the Crime Dog - October 1, 2010
You can avoid this
Rent a big-screen and have it mounted at the reception in clear view of the head table. If challenged, blame the father of the bride.
carpengui - October 1, 2010
She should be obsessively checking the score too
E-Lizz - October 1, 2010 via mobile
I am happy for the Braves
I predicted that we would make the playoffs, but I thought we’d go 3-3 over our last 6. I thought the Bobby events would be overshadowed by stressful games.
Now, I am confident we’ll have the thing clinched before Sunday. I can save my giant box of Tums for next week!
Go Bobby! Go Braves!
Jman781 - October 1, 2010
I like the "Left Coast Time" comment. +1
iamthesgt - October 1, 2010
I've been knocking on so much wood lately....
We’re incredibly lucky the Giants need at least one win against the Padres to clinch, that is so crucial because they’re not going to start scrubs.
SuperNewb - October 1, 2010
I was thinking the same thing. They have to play starters until they win, and a win by them guarantees at least a tie of the WC. As for the Braves, the Phils have clinched everything, including home field advantage.
Jman781 - October 1, 2010
Re: I've been knocking on so much wood lately....
TWSS
-C
cthabeerman - October 1, 2010
Two playoff games has never happened, right?
SuperNewb - October 1, 2010
What I’m now seeing is that in the event of a three-way tie, the division is decided first — that being via the head-to-head (season series) tie-breaker between SD and SF (which SD would win).
Then the Wild Card would be decided via a single play-in game held in Atlanta against the Giants.
If it’s only a two-way tie (i.e., between SD and ATL), then that play-in game for the wild card would also be held in Atlanta.
carpengui - October 1, 2010
Yes that's definintely true
I think multiple people have said that… I’m just wondering if the three way tie resulting in two playoff games scenario has ever happened before… if my memory serves correctly the answer is no.
SuperNewb - October 1, 2010
It'd have to be...
3 teams going for the WC. Not impossible, but incredibly unlikely…I guess with some more wins, the Rockies could have forced the issue, but it’s still a real longshot that it would ever occur.
-C
cthabeerman - October 1, 2010
Nope
There would be two playoff games. One to decide the West, then the loser would face ATL to decide the WC.
Countificus - October 1, 2010
Nope.
The division winner is decided by head-to-head record. The loser of that tie-breaker would then go on to face Atlanta.
-C
cthabeerman - October 1, 2010
From MLB.com
What if the Giants, Padres and Braves all finish tied?
First it would be Giants at Padres on Monday, with the winner being declared the division champion. Then a day later, the losing team would play in Atlanta to decide the Wild Card. Head-to-head is the first tiebreaker criteria, replacing coin flips, in this scenario to determine tiebreaker site.
Countificus - October 1, 2010
Here is the direct link for anyone that is interested:
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20101001&content_id=15283296&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb
Lists all the different scenarios. I just hope we win it outright and don’t have to deal with any of these tiebreaker issues.
Cayla - October 1, 2010
Huh? Like if the Padres sweep and we only win one game? Thus, the Giants would play the Padres and then the loser would play the Braves?
While interesting, I don’t want to see that!
Jman781 - October 1, 2010
Reply FAIL
Jman781 - October 1, 2010
Tick Tock... I am counting the time until tonight's game.
I can only imagine how the players feel about getting these last 3 games underway.
NCChopper - October 1, 2010
I am so bummed
that I don’t get to go this weekend. Plans were all set but unfortunately my grandmother is within hours of passing away, so to Virginia I go instead. Everybody have fun and go Braves!
By the way, I most likely won’t be able to see the tribute to Bobby, so if anybody can DVR it and upload it to youtube let us know!
jbeachbum24 - October 1, 2010
just wondering
when do people vote on ROY?
MBL1 - October 1, 2010 via mobile
Voting on season awards takes place at end of regular season.
Post-season is not included – ballots probably need to be in the mail on Monday. So it could literally come down to what Heyward does for Atlanta this weekend vs. what Posey does for the Giants.
carpengui - October 1, 2010
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