Kevin C. Cox - Getty Images
It's funny because it's true.
So, for the second straight series that I've covered for TC, the Braves swept their opponent. And it's not like they've been playing well the rest of the time, either: the Braves were 1-5 in between those two series and 7-14 in September games that I did not cover.
Still, I can't take the credit. If there's one thing I've learned from watching Bobby Cox's teams all these years, it's that no one person is solely responsible for the team's success (not even me!). The sweep of the Marlins was a team effort, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm just glad they're playing well when I do the recaps; it makes my job a lot more fun. At any rate, I hope the Braves can manage to keep this current mini-hot streak going into October (preferably late October).
OK, Here are the links to the TC recaps of the Marlins series, in case you missed them:
Game 1: Braves win 2-1
Game 2: Braves win 3-2
Game 3: Braves win 5-1
The Awards section is after the jump. Go Braves!
Braves' Pitching MVPs
Everyone. Literally every Brave who pitched had a positive WPA in the series. I guess that happens a lot when you only give up 4 runs in 3 games. Here's the Braves' combined line for all starters and all relievers:
Starters -- 19.1 IP, 3 R, 19 H, 0 HR, 5 BB (1 IBB), 16 K, 35/58 ground balls (60%), and a 0.511 WPA
Relievers -- 9.2 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 1 HR, 2 BB, 16 K, and a 0.773 WPA (wow!)
Braves' Hitting MVPs
Brooks Conrad -- 3/9, 2B, 3B, HR, 2 R, 4 RBI, 2K, 0.427 WPA
Eric Hinske -- 2/2, BB, HR, R, 3 RBI, 0.396 WPA
Omar Infante -- 3/13, 2 BB, RBI, SB, K, 0.181 WPA
David Ross -- 3/4, 3 2B, R, RBI, 0.210 WPA
Melky Cabrera -- 3/7, BB, R, K, 0.130 WPA
Marlins' Pitching MVP
Alex Sanabia -- 7 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 1 HR, 0 BB, 5 K, 0.172 WPA
Marlins' Hitting MVPs
Mike Stanton -- 6/12, R, RBI, SB, 2 K, 0.089 WPA
Emilio Bonifacio -- 3/12, 3 BB, 2 SB, 4 K, 0.099 WPA
(You read that right; Melky Cabrera had a greater positive impact on this series than any Marlin hitter.)
Braves' Clutchiest Plays
Omar Infante's walkoff single in game 1 (0.371 WPA)
Eric Hinske's go-ahead homer in game 2 (0.313 WPA)
Brooks Conrad's tying triple in game 2 (0.308 WPA)
Conrad's 3-run homer in game 3 (0.211 WPA)
Marlins' Clutchiest Play
Brad Davis' game-tying double in game 1 (0.261 WPA)
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Braves' Pitching LVP
Nobody (see above)
Braves' Hitting LVPs
Alex Gonzalez -- 0/11, 0 BB, 2 sac bunts, 0 R, 0 RBI, 2 K, -0.363 WPA (ouch)
Derrek Lee -- 2/10, 3 BB, 2 2B, 1 R, 0 RBI, 5 K, -0.193 WPA
Jason Heyward -- 2/11, 3 BB, 0 R, 0 RBI, 2 K, -0.157 WPA
Marlins' Pitching LVPs
Andrew Miller -- 3 IP, 4 R, 4 H, 1 HR, 4 BB, 2 K, -0.250 WPA
Jose Veras -- 1.2 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 2 BB, 2 K, -0.250 WPA
Marlins' Hitting LVPs
Gaby Sanchez -- 0/12, 0 BB, 0 R, 0 RBI, 2 K, GIDP, -0.435 WPA (yowza)
Logan Morrison -- 1/13, 1 BB, 0 R, 0 RBI, 5 K, -0.408 WPA (double yowza)
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I thought it'd be worthwhile to quickly break down our various ways of making the playoffs:
Clinch Wild Card:
Win all 3 vs. PHI
Win 2/3 vs. PHI
Win 1/3 vs. PHI & SD loses 2/4 remaining games
Win 1/3 vs. PHI & SF loses 4/4 remaining games
SD loses 3 or 4 of its 4 remaining games
Clinch Tie For Wild Card (the tie-breaking game would be in Atlanta):
Win 1/3 vs. PHI & SD loses 1/4 remaining games
Win 1/3 vs. PHI & SF loses 3/4 remaining games
SD loses 2/4 remaining games
SF loses 4/4 remaining games
In other words, let's not mess around. Win 2/3 vs. the Phillies and we're in. Considering that all 3 games will sell out, we'll miss both the Roys, and they'll likely be resting some of their regulars, we'll have no excuses if we don't win that series.
0 recs | 44 comments
Let's keep it going
i am soooo PUMPED right now! Bring on the next FCP!
king of games - September 30, 2010
Hahaha
I’m wondering where all of the votes for 4 and 5 will be.
Scott Coleman - September 30, 2010
Weird
because Sanchez and Morrison usually kill us.
MBL1 - September 30, 2010 via mobile
let’s just be glad Hanley didn’t play. Could have been a totally different series
Fatvirus - September 30, 2010
If we get the Wild Card...
What would our playoff roster look like? If Saito is healthy and Kimbrel makes the roster what does the pen look like? Does Diory get the last bench spot?
mj10catchit10 - September 30, 2010
I'd imagine it'd be something like:
Starters (4): Hudson, Hanson, Lowe, Jurrjens (or Beachy if JJ’s knee’s still bad)
Relievers (8): Wagner, Venters, Saito, Moylan, Farnsworth (shudder), Kimbrel, Dunn, EOF (or Proctor if EOF’s still got the dizziness problem)
Position Players (13): McCann, Ross, Lee, Infante, Gonzalez, Conrad, Hinske, Diaz, McLouth, Cabrera, Ankiel, Heyward, and 1 more (either Diory, Glaus, or Boscan)
I’d take Diory as the final bench guy (versatility is key), but who knows what Bobby will do? Of course, I don’t want Ankiel or Farnsworth anywhere near the playoff roster… I’d prefer Proctor and any other position player.
Jacob Peterson - September 30, 2010
You don’t want Ankiel on the roster even if just used for late-inning defensive purposes?
Or is the fear that Bobby will insert him into the lineup regardless strong enough to compensate for whatever marginal defensive value he has over Melky/McLouth/Diaz/Hinske?
Ivan the Great - September 30, 2010
He has no marginal defensive value over those guys, in my opinion.
I think he’s just as bad as Melky and Nate in CF. And with Nate hitting better lately, Ankiel is just a redundant part.
Jacob Peterson - September 30, 2010
Uhm
He has the best arm of any of our outfielders.
sag969 - September 30, 2010
kauf67 - September 30, 2010
noooo
don’t trust Farnsworth in the playoffs.
You make a good point about Diory’s versatility. But Glaus has playoff experience, and experience is big in the playoffs. So I don’t know who will be on the postseason roster if we make it.
Also, I know Chipper won’t be on the postseason roster, but IF we win it all, does he still get a ring? Just wondering.
MBL1 - September 30, 2010 via mobile
Yes
Every person who played during the year gets a ring
HansonManCrush - September 30, 2010 via mobile
Even Escobar, Blanco, Jo-Jo and Chavez?
MBL1 - September 30, 2010 via mobile
Yes, everyone who played during the season gets a ring.
king of games - September 30, 2010
That's a lot of OFers...
and not enough IFs
DreamWithinADream - September 30, 2010
I agree...
but that’s what I think Bobby does. I can’t see him leaving off any of the CFs, or Diaz, or Hinske.
Jacob Peterson - September 30, 2010
Wow
Look at the hitting MVP’s. Aside from Infante no one you would expect.
dragonhawk26 - September 30, 2010
It's hard
to get too excited about beating a team you’re supposed to beat, but lets take the momentum and run! I am a little sad we aren’t going to see both Roy’s. I wasn’t that impressed with their wins against us last week. We get a hit here and there and the Braves win. Once again the anemic Chipper-less offense let us down. I want a second shot to prove we can beat them, but if it takes playing them in round 2 of the playoffs, so be it. Go Braves!
HeyMikey - September 30, 2010
Fie on thee. I’m ELATED we don’t have to see both Roys. Makes the road into October a much easier one to travel, and then if we do see the Roys, that’ll be the time to stick it to ’em, not now.
J-Freak - September 30, 2010
Derek Lowe
Even more impressive than his stats since he got the cortisone shot and rested is seeing him pitch. His slider has been filthy and unhittable. He’s looked like the Ace that we’re paying for. I wonder how long he’s secretly been dealing with the elbow issue?
Siteburner - September 30, 2010
I’d like to add that not only has it been unhittable but he’s throwing it for strikes too. Plus his velocity is up.
Siteburner - September 30, 2010
Yeah!
I think every batter he faced he through that slider for strike first pitch to put the batter in the hole. I hope he keeps pitching like this. I like the signing when we got him but he hasn’t lived up to that ace until now. I hope he keeps rolling through October. Will be nice to have him and Huddy dominating in the post season if we make it.
TCfromDubVee - September 30, 2010
this may sound like a corny movie script...
but does anyone think theres any chance this might be it for Derek Lowe? ie; Is he putting everything left in his arm into this run, and there might not be any working parts left after this season? It seems odd that all of the sudden at the end of the season at age 37 his velo is up and his stuff is breaking way harder.
15ks - September 30, 2010
Doubt it
He may have surgery and get that bone chip removed, and come back better than ever, or close to.
He said he’s had it for a long time, but it only recently started bothering him. But who knows…could have been affecting things without him realizing it. Injuries are weird.
-C
cthabeerman - September 30, 2010
AGon
was soooo bad this series. Really hope he gets it turned around. A decent threat in the bottom third (well, middle third now) sure would be nice.
Richard R - September 30, 2010
Me too.
I mean, he’s been pretty decent since coming over here (certainly better than Yunel was), but the past week has been a horrorshow.
Jacob Peterson - September 30, 2010
hopefully the phils sellout..
postseason here we come!! now if only we can get derek lee to hit…he can carry an entire offense if hes going..
radamez85 - September 30, 2010
Pacgnosis is a god.
32-17 on the year, which is good for a .653% winning percentage. Thata boy Jacob.
Scott Coleman - September 30, 2010
And I raise my game in the clutch, too.
Jacob Peterson - September 30, 2010
You and gondee are the only ones allowed to cover postseason series. Got it?
EricGreggWasPaidOff - September 30, 2010
Pitching was great, but gotta go with Conrad. When Prado went down, I didn’t know who’d step up and take his place. Conrad has been pretty clutch all season. He’s not flashy, but he seems to get the job done. The offense has been pretty bad, and he really carried the weight this week. Time for some of the other players to step up.
Sparhawk - September 30, 2010
i’d give it to Hinske. That HR seemed to light a fire in us. Also, it seemed like the first clutch HR in many, many games.
ryantex - September 30, 2010
So the Phils are skipping both Roys, eh? Sounds like Charlie knows how well we do against no name guys we’ve never faced.
Well played Manuel.
10-4 - September 30, 2010
Man I feel really bad for Glaus. I mean he carried this team through may and parts of June, and now he’s nowhere to be seen
Kineticist - September 30, 2010 via mobile
yeah but if we pull it off, he'll know, and true braves fan will know what a huge part of the season he was
Plus there’s always a chance for postseason heroics
15ks - September 30, 2010
He’ll pull a Kirk Gibson in the World Series. Just wait.
TonyAlmeyda - September 30, 2010
I’ve already said Chipper would be playing that role.
10-4 - September 30, 2010
Same here.
Whenever I see him in the dugout, I feel really sad for him. I hope he’ll get a chance to contribute some more before it’s all said and done.
Cayla - September 30, 2010
I do feel bad for him
But nobody to blame but himself. If he could have just been half as good as he was in May/June, he’d still be fine. Problem is crashed and burned sooooooooooo bad.
sag969 - September 30, 2010
Glaus
I think you have to put Glaus in the last bench spot. He would be the prefect dh if we get to the playoffs. If we win the first two against Philly hopefully cox puts him in to start at first base to get some live AB’s before the playoffs.
rcates - September 30, 2010
I meant if we get to the Series.
rcates - September 30, 2010
You meant when we get to the series. Right?
Kineticist - September 30, 2010 via mobile
You can change your postseason 25-man roster between rounds
So we can still DH him in the WS without using him in all 3 series…
I’m not saying he gets left off in the first place, but when you’re stuck with the same roster for 5-7 games, you need to make sure you have all your bases covered defensively in case someone goes down. Glaus doesn’t really help us in that portion of the game.
-C
cthabeerman - September 30, 2010
This
I think Diory should get the call for the NLDS and the NLCS
kauf67 - September 30, 2010
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