For the rest of the season we'll keep a daily tally of the Atlanta Braves chances of making the postseason, along with daily commentary. Also consider this a daily open thread for general chatting.
| NL East | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK | Magic Num | Playoff Odds |
| Phillies | 83 | 61 | .576 | - | W1 | 18 | 81% |
| Braves | 82 | 62 | .569 | 1 | L1 | 20 | 79.8% |
Back in second thanks to a lack of timely hitting and unfortunate pitching.
The Braves host the Nationals and the Phillies travel to Florida next. Both the Braves and the Phils play nothing but National League East opponents the rest of the way. In fact, we play the same number of games against each NL East foe -- with each team playing the Mets and Marlins three games apiece, and the Nationals six games. And of course, the Phillies and Braves also play each other six times, including the final three at Turner Field.
On paper tonight's game should be a win for the Braves -- a rookie making his second big league start against veteran Derek Lowe. This clearly means that the opposite will happen. We'll see.
0 recs | 18 comments
I am not sure...
…you can just call Maya a “rookie” and leave it at that. He’s not particularly young; he is a Cuban defector who, IIRC and if the records can be believed, is somewhere between 27 and 30 years old.
cavebird - September 13, 2010
It doesn't matter...
In my opinion, the Braves do not hit well against pitchers they have not seen before, so I am worried about tonight’s game regardless.
Jman781 - September 13, 2010
DING.
That’s exactly the ticket – it’s as if having no advance scouting strikes a critical blow to the offense…. and it’s been that way for years.
carpengui - September 13, 2010
seems like every time the Braves face a pitcher that has been on a losing streak or has just come off the DL, they dont hit the guy. He could have a 27 ERA in his last 10 games, but will shut out the Braves. I hate the excuse that “they dont hit well against pitchers they haven’t seen before”, every other team manages to do it. I hope the bats can get back on track, its good to see Heyward crushing the ball again, and McClouth has actually looked good, If Lee can start hitting, Then we have a chance.
HeyMikey - September 13, 2010
I wouldn't call it an excuse
But merely an observation. I don’t have an excuse for their lack of success against unknown pitchers or, in your comment, pitchers who have been terrible/injured. I wish I knew why they hit poorly in against those types of pitchers.
Maybe they’ll buck the the trend tonight and destroy the Nats.
Jman781 - September 13, 2010
It's time
To step it up and prove this team is the real deal… No more screwin around
HansonManCrush - September 13, 2010 via mobile
Pitching
is what has gotten us this far, and quite frankly it’s looked a little mediocre as of late. With Huddy losing a couple starts that he should have kept us in the game for, I’m beginning to become a little worried with our inconsisitency. It’s nice to see McClouth and Lee coming around, but we need to be anchored by our pitching and can’t have JJ and Huddy coming out with lackluster starts if we’re going to try and make a legitimate push for the postseason.
gooseneckn - September 13, 2010
spot on
we’ve known all season that the Braves have certain problems: bad defense, inconsistent hitting, inability to manufacture runs, etc. But the key has always been great starting pitching which keeps us in the game coupled with clutch hitting and a lock-down bullpen in the late innings.
But now we’ve lost that. The starters aren’t keeping us in games. Here is how are starters have pitched in their past five starts:
Hudson – 5.17 ERA
Jurrjens – 6.28 ERA
Minor – 5.88 ERA
Lowe – 4.50 ERA
Hanson – 4.20 ERA
If that keeps up we will finish with the 4th best record in the NL West, and I think we all know what that means. And as much as I hate the Phillies, I’m not even going to insult them by suggesting we can continue to pitch like this and overtake them.
DCP916 - September 13, 2010
haha you’re funny
GoBravesNY - September 13, 2010
He's right.
I don’t think that DCP916 said that we WILL continue to pitch like we have lately, but IF we do, we won’t make the playoffs. Seems like a reasonable statment to me.
If all our starting pitchers have a 4.00+ ERA or higher to end the season, I don’t like our chances, especially against the Phils head to head.
I do not think that our pitchers will have numbers that high as they are are all good to great pitchers, but they haven’t been razor sharp of late.
Jman781 - September 13, 2010
Haven't said this all year, but
hope Nate McLouth is in the lineup tonight!
TCfromDubVee - September 13, 2010
CHYEAAAAA BOYYYYYY
bravesfan203 - September 13, 2010
on paper
the Braves should have about a 5 game lead.
on paper has meant pretty much nothing over the last 3-4 weeks.
nuftjedi - September 13, 2010
because games aren't played on paper
Mr. Sanchez - September 13, 2010
no, they are played inside TV sets.
CharlotteChop - September 13, 2010
I know it won't happen but...
I really would like to see Heyward hit in a more RBI oriented spot in the order.
Even swapping him and Prado would be an improvement I think.
s.r.j - September 13, 2010
Lineups for tonights game....
McLouth
Prado
Heyward
McCann
Lee
Infante
Gonzalez
Hinske
Not really, but I want it that way dammit!
Undocorkscrew - September 13, 2010
needin' a little help...
heading down to the ATL for that (hopefully) all important series against the Phils… needing 5 tix for the Saturday game, which is of course sold out, so StubHub here I come. any thoughts on the Terrace Pavilion seats vs the Field Pavilion?
knarf - September 13, 2010
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