It's all about making October
by adamlawson on Jul 22, 2009 10:31 AM EDT
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Braves fans haven't exactly had the best season in 2009. Just when the team gives us hope, they tear us down with a 3-game losing streak. Well, right now they seem like they are trying to put off that trend for the time being, and for perhaps the first time all year, the Braves are playing well.
Of course, it doesn't help that the Phillies have decided that because they are the defending World Champs nobody can beat them anymore. But, in the Wild Card era there is hope for this team. All I care about as a fan is the team making October. If the Braves can do that, they would enter the playoffs as perhaps the most dangerous team. Think about it.
Pitching wins championships. That's the endless quote you will hear every October. Mr. Cal Ripken: "So-and-so team will win it because their pitching is just too good for the competition. Yadda yadda yadda." You get the point. The Braves have that pitching. If Bobby Cox decides to go with a 3-man rotation in the playoffs, who would look forward to starting a short best-of-five series against Vazquez, Jurrjens, and Tommy Hanson? If, for kicks and giggles, they have to employ a fourth starter in that October rotation, a basic coin flip could decide whether or not Bobby wants to use Derek Lowe or Tim Hudson, depending on how Hudson comes back after Tommy John surgery. I don't see any other rotation in October that would be tougher than that. Note that if the Braves make the Wild Card, there is almost no way that the Giants will make the playoffs, thus their strong rotation is a moot point in this discussion.
But the Braves can piece together runs if they have to in October, which will be so important. This season they are third in the National League in 2-out runs, one spot ahead of the Phils. And if the offense plays anywhere near the way it is now, look out. It seems Cox has finally picked a reasonable lineup, and there aren't really any easy outs in it, save the pitcher of course. Nate McLouth, when he's not slumping like it's his job, sets the table, Martin Prado, aka Mr. Double, follows him, with Chipper Jones, Brian McCann, and Garret Anderson to follow. After you get through that you still have to deal with Yunel Escobar. That alone could be enough to win a playoff series.
In my humble opinion, if the Braves find a way to make the playoffs, whether it be as a wild card, a division winner, if they get a sponsor's exemption into the tournament, whatever, they'll be dangerous. Will they be the World Champs? It's hard to predict. But the one thing you really can't argue with is that the team in Hotlanta sets up to be a much tougher playoff foe than a regular season opponent.
CONTACT ME: If you have any questions, comments, or criticisms of this article, e-mail me at alawson2@elon.edu, or add me on facebook (Adam Lawtown Lawson, in the Elon network).
This FanPost does not express the views or opinions of Talking Chop.
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I like the post, but I think you’re slightly off on what really wins in October. Yes it is good pitching, but more importantly it good power pitching. At the end of the season when hitters are a little tired and pressure builds, power pitching becomes dominant. Thats what we’ve seen in the playoffs of late (with the exception of last year when the phils won with almost no pitching). Guys who have dominated in October are Beckett, Lester, Carpenter, Schilling, Randy Johnson, Smoltz, etc. Guys without great power stuff are typically not as successful. The fact that we have Vasquez and Hanson means we would have a decent shot, because they are power pitchers- but other teams like the Dodgers, Red Sox, and Yankees have pretty good 1-2 power pitcher combinations also.
That being said, if we make the playoffs, I would be shocked if Derek Lowe is not the game 1 starter. After all, we are talking about Bobby Cox here, and all he’s going to remember is what Lowe did to the Cubs last year. We’ll hear about how he’s a big game pitcher, and he’ll get the ball.
I completely agree with the point here about power pitching.
Good first article though, perfect for a Fanpost. So you go to Elon? That’s pretty sweet – I currently live in Gibsonville and go to Duke for summer school. How do you like Elon?
Elon's great
I’m a Tar Heel fan though! haha. Add me on the facebook if you want.
Probably true
but Gregg Maddux and Tom Glavine didn’t have any problem shutting down elite offenses in October in their day….
Just saying, it can be done.
by Andy Braves Fan on Jul 22, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Yea Love the post, but the rookie Tommy Hanson will not be put over Derek Lowe the big game pitcher with play off experience. And you could even argue that Hudson would get the nod over JJ if he is healthy enough by then. I wouldn’t want to face a Lowe, Hudson, Javy rotation in the play offs. But if I was the other team I would want to face JJ, and Hanson just because of their are so young.
Baseball is my life
If Hanson has the stuff that he had the other night, then he would get the nod over ANY pitcher…some of his pitches pissed me off cause they were sooo ridiculous…
A man walks into a meat shoppe and goes to the counter. The cashier asks, "Thinking about buying some meat?". The man replied, "No, I'm going to buy meat, I was thinking about punanny."
by bwellnjonesco on Jul 22, 2009 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions
I halfway agree with this. The Braves’ pitching gives them a chance both to play in October and to win a championship should they make the playoffs. OTOH the Braves had even better starting pitching and far better hitting during their division winning streak yet it only resulted in 5 NL pennants and 1 championship. You have to have a complete team to win a championship, and I’m not so sure this year’s Braves’ offense and bullpen is up to it. The Braves would likely end up playing the Dodgers in the first round, the Phillies in the NLCS, then one of the AL East teams in the World Series. That would be a tough task for this offense and worn out bullpen. I’d love to see the Braves get a shot at it of course.
The bullpen would be a moot point
The Braves would move whatever starters didn’t make the cut into relief roles for October I am sure.
by Andy Braves Fan on Jul 22, 2009 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Derek Lowe is money late in the season, he’d definitely be in over Hanson. If Hanson is dominant the rest of the way we could go 4 man, but Lowe will be starting
by McCann's the Man on Jul 22, 2009 1:24 PM EDT reply actions
Agree
I like that the Braves have a rotation built for the post season. The Braves have given up almost 10 fewer home runs than the next lowest team in the NL. They can run two groundball pitcher (Lowe and Jurrjens) out there along with two high strikeout guys (Vazquez and Hanson).
Couple that with strike out machines Soriano and Gonzalez and you have a staff that keeps the ball in the park and takes away the power potential of most teams. No one this season has clubbed the Braves to death. The staff forces teams to beat them with small ball and getting consecutive base hits. Not a ton of teams can do that with regularity.
The Braves won't make the playoffs.
The Phillies always play well in the second half. Rollins is one of their most valuable players, and he is starting to heat up. He will have a strong second half. Plus, they have Pedro getting ready to come up to the majors again. With the team the Phillies have now, it is unlikely for us to win the division. And if they get Halladay, it will be impossible for us to win the East. We probably won’t win the wild card simply because there are so many teams in that race. But if we do make it to the postseason, we have a legitamite shot. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: Starting pitching is what gets you deep into the postseason, and we have just that. In truth, all you need is three good starters in your rotation to win in the divisional playoffs. So yeah, we would have a shot if we made it that far.
Of course I'm a true fan.
Just because I’m rather pessimistic about this year dosen’t mean I hate this team. What a stupid thing to say.
I have noticed since we started thinking more optimistically , and making more optimistic comments, our team is playing better.
This said, what do we want our team to read if they so choose to read our comments?
I for one would like them to know I stand behind them, winning or losing,!
I believe our team has the pieces to go all the way!
I would love nothing better than to see the revival of the worst to first team back in Atl.
I believe WE can………and if we don’t , they are still my team!
Go Braves!
If we do make the playoffs,
should we give Vazquez the ball? He has been terrific this year, but he isn’t a big game pitcher.
I doubt his post season sample size is really sufficient to draw that conclusion.
Pete Rose was actually banned from baseball for teaching Jeff Francoeur how to play. He made up the gambling stuff to hide his shame.
by VivaLosBravos on Jul 23, 2009 2:22 AM EDT up reply actions
who knows what can happen
the teams currently ahead of us are all on a losing streak and the Braves are hot recently. and we are only 3 games behind the Rockies.
Bodyguard of the Official Matty I Fan Club.
by dolphinsinbuffalo on Jul 22, 2009 4:25 PM EDT reply actions
I Just wanna see us in the dance !!!
You have to trust the guns that got you to the dance, an if we get to the postseason we will have to use Vasquez, think about it if we had been hitting like this all along we could be in first place without anyone close. As far as playoffs only way we get in is that we become the NL Wildcard team. I just wanna see us get in a play a playoff series, for the first time in what 5 or 6 years now !!
GO BRAVEESSS !!!
by Holty_Panthers_Fan on Jul 22, 2009 11:08 PM EDT reply actions
who brings guns to a dance? just kidding…
"When life gives you lemons, just say 'F*ck the lemons,' and bail."
by Bravely going forward on Jul 22, 2009 11:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Even when Nate is "slumping like his job"
He’s still walking a ridiculous amount. If anyone in my lineup is in the midst of an 0-17 and can give me a line like 0-1, 4BB and score a couple runs, I’ll be just fine with that till the hits start dropping again.
"...Braves tie! ...Braves tie! ...Braves tie!"
by The Keith Lockhart Era on Jul 23, 2009 12:43 AM EDT reply actions
I agree, it’s not like he’s an auto out each time he comes to the plate, he’s helping us with his patience at the plate. I had much rather see a player work a walk as just go up swinging!!
Nate will come around….
Exactly
scorching double tonight. Wouldn’t be surprised if it knocked out a couple of bulbs in the RF fence scoreboard.
Pete Rose was actually banned from baseball for teaching Jeff Francoeur how to play. He made up the gambling stuff to hide his shame.
by VivaLosBravos on Jul 23, 2009 2:23 AM EDT up reply actions
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