Everything went right yesterday, for once. Everything! Our veteran pitcher threw great on three days rest. Our offense got the big hit it has been looking for during the first nine innings the last week. Even Melky effin Cabrera went 2-for-4! And the teams behind us in the Wild Card race lost.
The Rockies finally came back down to Earth the last week and were eliminated last night by the Dodgers. Ryan Dempster and Alfonso Soriano heard my call and managed to beat the Padres. Even the Phillies lost, not that it matters to us any more, but it's nice to see.
So there it is; one lonely team chasing us down. One lonely team between the Braves and the postseason, and Atlanta is in the driver's seat. We still have to do a good deal of winning in order for this to happen, but it's at least looking better. I actually don't mind Chip Caray's references to the Cubs this week. In fact, this week all Braves fans should be Cubs fans. (Only without the taint of an historic not-winning-the-World-Series-for-100-years streak.)
All eyes turn to Derek Lowe tonight. Maybe the offense can get him a dozen runs for old times sake.
Terrible news about Martin Prado. I put a story up about it last night, but I'm still upset. He plays so hard and works so hard, it's tough to see a guy like that get this far and then not be able to contribute. Though I think we're in good hands with Brooks Conrad. His defense is not as good as Marteeen's, but he's been pretty equal offensively. I tweeted last night that Conrad has an .810 OPS as a starter, while Pardo had an .806 OPS as a starter. Conrad proved that last night with a huge triple to drive in the first run of the game for Atlanta.
The third-hole in the Braves lineup has really been an injury-prone position. I just hope that Brian McCann can avoid injury (someone will need to tie Brian Snitker's hands to his waist). We really can't lose another key piece of this team (and I really don't want my "J.C. Boscan getting his first MLB at-bat in the post-season" scenario to come true).
0 recs | 62 comments
I completey support this recommendation:
It sure would be nice to see double digits in the run(s) column for a few games wouldn’t it?
NCChopper - September 29, 2010
Just think...
if we could have pulled out 1 against Phily, and 1 more against Washington, we’d have this thing locked up by now. Get a win tonight, and we’re sitting in a very good position going into the final series with Phily where they don’t care about the outcome and are likely to rest up some before the playoffs.
Mr. Sanchez - September 29, 2010
Coulda-woulda-shoulda. You could do that all day about any of those 9 games in a row we lost (2 to PHI, 3 to NY, 4 to STL).
joshmaurer - September 29, 2010
so whats the magic number now?
4? seems like we should only need 2 to wrap this up.
Weasie - September 29, 2010
Yes
4
Old Braves' Fan - September 29, 2010
No, 3
3 wins gets us to 92. SD and SF can’t BOTH get to 92.
Realistically, 2 more wins will get it done.
pjdonald - September 29, 2010
yeah
the magic number is skewed because it doesn’t take into account SD is playing SF in the last three games.
nuftjedi - September 29, 2010
Whoa
Like it.
Yakker - September 29, 2010
I never said the Braves needed 3 wins,
I said the magic number (combination of Braves win or Padres losses) was 4.
Old Braves' Fan - October 3, 2010
The earliest the Braves can clinch the Wild Card is Friday.
TonyAlmeyda - September 29, 2010
Or...
If Kawakami had been 4-7 instead of 0-100…
we would have it clinched by now.
HalleyGator - September 29, 2010
Or if the Braves don't tank that huge lead in Denver
carpengui - September 29, 2010
thank you for that...
Mr. Sanchez - September 29, 2010
My fear is
That Philly still fears us and wants to bury us so we don’t make the playoffs… I think they care a little
HansonManCrush - September 29, 2010 via mobile
It's
not up to Philly to let us win, it is up to us to beat Philly.
We just need to take care of business and not worry what mindframe Philly is in. It’s not like they have to let us win in order for us to win.
dragonhawk26 - September 29, 2010
They have no reason to fear us.
They completely outclassed us in the last series. They are not going to hurt their chances (even a little) in a short series with the Reds (or Giants, or maaaaybe the Padres, depending on how things shake out) in an attempt to game the postseason berths. We won’t see Halladay, probably won’t see Oswalt, and some of their starting 8 will be getting rest.
That doesn’t mean it will be an easy series, but it won’t be a killer series, either. The Pads have got to be afraid going into their last series with the Giants; we can be hopeful.
SS451 - September 29, 2010
Why would anyone not want to face us in October
I mean, I love this team, and when we had, you know, a lineup, we were pretty scary, with all the pitching and whatnot. But the only way we really scare anyone right now is in a 5 game series.
And they aren’t really scared, just aware our pitching could be really good. Even if it the pitching is good, we have to score runs. No team with any amount of pitching would be disappointed at all to face us in October.
I don’t have some encyclopedic memory, but if we hold on, we have to be one of the worst playoff teams in a long time.
That’s not to denigrate the team. We played really well to get us into a position where sans Chipper, Prado, Medlen, and possibly Jurrjens, we still have a good chance to make the playoffs. But this ain’t May’s Braves.
The Goche - September 29, 2010
2006, 83 win Cardinals
I see what you’re saying, and I sort of mirror your sentiment, but who knows what happens once the playoffs begin, and all records are 0-0, first to eleven wins, wins?
But you don’t run into 90 (at least, I hope) wins for being one of the worst playoff teams, without there being some glimpse of good potential. I mean come on, the Arizona Cardinals were the “worst” team to get in with a 9-7, when they marched into the Super Bowl, and stranger things are always possible.
royhobbs - September 29, 2010
THIS
just get in and see what happens. The best team does not always win in this strange game of ours
BravesDawg16 - September 29, 2010
It’s not like were facing a Cy Young award winner tonight; Andrew ‘AA’ Miller….As in
Double A – Jacksonville.
Mullett - September 29, 2010
Yeah, Andew Miller...
…that started against the Braves earlier this month and only gave up one run in a Marlins’ win. Miller is also 3-0 with a 2.61 ERA, lifetime, against the Braves. Not that I really believe in jinxes, but c’mon, man…
Old Braves' Fan - September 29, 2010
Small sample size.
We’ll get to him.
SS451 - September 29, 2010
We're obviously due
StapleGun - September 29, 2010
Is it just me...
or does Hinske remind anyone else of DOUG from “King of Queens”?
HalleyGator - September 29, 2010
I can see it. Did everybody else catch Ross and Hinkse in the dugout after the bomb? He hid their faces from the camera with his hat, and then screamed ‘YEESSSSSS!!!!" into Eric’s face.
joshmaurer - September 29, 2010
I saw that, cracked me up :-D
NCChopper - September 29, 2010
That was hilarious.
D Ross is up there with (pre-Bobby induced arm-apocalypse) Will Ohman in terms of solid role players who just seem like fun to have around.
The Goche - September 29, 2010
Haha yes. At one point after the homer, they showed him in the dugout and I had this exact thought.
Cayla - September 29, 2010
Actually I have always thought he look a lot like Doug's cousin Danny
s.r.j - September 29, 2010
When McCann just laid there at home plate after being tagged out, I thought he’d injured himself. I hope Bobby rests him today — McCann has looked exhausted for the last several weeks.
kidnarcolepsy - September 29, 2010
I have a feeling we are going to see some interesting lineups from here on out. Like tonight I could see Bobby running out:
1. Infante 2B
2. Heyward RF
3. Lee 1B
4. Diaz LF
5. Melky CF
6. Gonzalez SS
7. Ross C
8. Conrad 3B
If someone would have told me durring spring training that that would be our lineup on Sept. 29th I would have bet $50 we were under .500 and out of the playoffs.
bbxxj - September 29, 2010
Time for the ol' "Romer"!!!!
I’m thinking we should do something radical this afternoon. Lowe is a groundball pitcher and we don’t have anybody that can concievably help us in CF. Play Glaus at 1st, Lee between 1st and 2nd, Infante up the middle. behind 2nd, Diaz in left center and Heyward in right center. Gonzo, Conrad and Ross at their normal spots. Lots of RH bats in that bunch.
Tell the truth, great idea, or what?
bighop - September 29, 2010
Roamer?
cbwilk - September 29, 2010
Hmmm, let me check…. no, Tony LaRussa isn’t managing this team.
carpengui - September 29, 2010
Or what
Yakker - September 29, 2010
I pray that Bobby come to his senses and realizes that Heyward needs to be in the 3. This is a perfect chance to try it out. Here’s what i’m hoping for today, given that Ross will most likely give McCann a day off:
1. Infante 2b
2. Conrad 3b
3. Heyward RF
4. Lee 1b
5. Diaz LF
6. Melky CF
7. Gonzalez SS
8. Ross C
I don’t think that’s too much to ask for…
michaelcooksey - September 29, 2010
Good lord
People give it up. You will NOT see Heyward bat in the 3 spot and frankly I have to agree with BC on this one that there is no good reason for him to.
-InsertWittyNameHere- - September 29, 2010 via mobile
Why do you want him to be in the 3 spot?
I just don’t understand.
SS451 - September 29, 2010
If we clinch the Wild Card
how is it determined who we play
bluelg - September 29, 2010
2nd best record in NL (we can’t play Phillies due to same division)
Broccoman - September 29, 2010
Yeah, I've been looking at this a bit.
1. Nobody wants the Giants in Round 1. However, if the playoffs started today, the Braves would be headed there, as they hold a one game lead over Cincy in the “play the Wild Card Team” sweepstakes.
2. How can that scenario change? Easily. San Fran has Arizona and then San Diego for the weekend. Cincy has Houston and Milwaukee. Advantage Cincy.
3. PROBLEM: If Cincy and SF end in a TIE for the better record, San Fran has the advantage and will prevail due to a 4-3 advantage in head-to-head games. So the Reds has to actually pass the Giants in order to earn the 2nd seed position.
4. Best Scenario for Atlanta. The Reds win out; San Diego loses at least one of remaining pair vs. Chicago; San Diego then wins at least 2 vs. San Fran. Braves at least split the remaining 4 games. In this world, Braves play the Reds in round 1; Phillies have to play a west coast team.
carpengui - September 29, 2010
WC plays the other playoff team with the best record that is not in the WC teams division. We wouldn’t play the Phillies. Probably Reds or Giants, whichever has the better record.
bighop - September 29, 2010
Reply fail
bighop - September 29, 2010
J.C.
I’m saying J.C. starts Sunday’s game, after we clinch on Saturday.
pjdonald - September 29, 2010
catching Minor right?
nuftjedi - September 29, 2010
Who is the postseason roster replacement
for Prado?
king of games - September 29, 2010
my guess is Freeman.
Glaus would be the emergency 3B.
Broccoman - September 29, 2010
I don't think
Freeman is allowed on postseason roster since he was called up after September 1
sag969 - September 29, 2010
We have a bajillion 60-Day DL'ers
Anyone on our roster can fill those slots. I’m assuming we currently have Chipper, Prado and Medlen on that list, so we can probably pencil him in as a possibility.
-C
cthabeerman - September 29, 2010
I would love to have Freddie on that roster, but they might be compelled to put Diory in the mix… just for depth sake. Both would be a good idea… in the first round you could make do with one less pitcher.
carpengui - September 29, 2010
IMO Diory is a lock
With Infante and Conrad playing, we have literally no backup for 2nd and 3rd. And since Infante has to play second, no backup for SS. Diory is literally our only backup MI right now.
So in any case, we have to have some MI backup, really most teams would have 2. So no way Diory isn’t on the roster.
This postseason roster is going to be really tough to figure out, assuming we need one.
The Goche - September 29, 2010
I’m afraid to see the lineups….
Joseph_C - September 29, 2010
Eh, Mac’s feeling fresh as he did on April 1. Besides, since its a 4:30 game and we’re off tomorrow, thats like a day and half off. I might need him to catch some simulated innings on the off day so he doesn’t get rusty.
10-4 - September 29, 2010
that was supposed to be in quotes from bobby, don’t know what happened.
10-4 - September 29, 2010
Tonight's lineup per DOB
Infante, 2B
Heyward, RF
Diaz, LF
Lee, 1B
Gonzalez, SS
Ross, C
Conrad, 3B
Cabrera, CF
Lowe, P
Cayla - September 29, 2010
Crazy's all we got
Texastriplecrown - September 29, 2010
Ross at last! Ross at last!
10-4 - September 29, 2010
Eh
It’ll do.
-InsertWittyNameHere- - September 29, 2010 via mobile
Wow
That lineup totally makes sense. I’m kind of surprised.
I’m happy with any lineup where neither Melky nor Ankiel is batting higher than 8th.
The Goche - September 29, 2010
This
king of games - September 29, 2010
Cameron Maybin news
From Rotoworld.com, citing Marlins.mlb.com:
carpengui - September 29, 2010
I would note...
That the fact he says he could be back and the manager being stupid enough to risk further injury by allowing him to play are two different things.
I really hope they aren’t that dumb, for Maybin’s sake moreso than the Braves.
-C
cthabeerman - September 29, 2010
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