Why the WC isn't bad at all; I told ya so!

by Sir Veza on Oct 4, 2010 9:35 AM EDT

Now that the Braves have made it to the postseason, it's time to step our game up a notch. No more defensive goofs! No more swinging at garbage down in the dirt and away. It's time to take care of bi'ness. The following are my reasons why it's to our advantage that we won the WC

1) We had to win to get in. That's a huge confidence and momentum boost. Teams like the Reds and Phillies didn't really have anything to play for (except that the Phillies ran their opening day lineup against us -- perhaps to play spoiler?) whereas our entire season was on the line. Just limping into the playoffs is lame, IMO. It bares repeating: The Marlins, Red Sox, Giants, Angels, and Rockies all took WC spots all the way to the World Series. Win/Loss record during the regular season means nothing (we finished with a better W/L record than the Rangers and tied with the Reds). Lets keep the momentum rolling!

2) The Phillies have to play the Reds. Lets face it. We can't outslug them. SanFran can't outslug them. However, the Reds can: Jay Bruce, Joey Votto (possibly MVP), and Scott Rolen are having great years! Both teams play in bandboxes which should make for lots of DINGERZ in their series. I believe the X factors for the Reds will be Drew Stubbs and Brandon Phillips. This series could also come down to cry-baby Carlos Ruiz who had to have the waaaaambulance called yesterday after getting plunked by Tim Hudson.

3) We match up extremely well against the Giants. Although the Braves only went 4-3 against them, it could have easily been 6-1. Remember Edgar Renteria's GW earlier this season? Their offense is luke warm at best. And that's their regular lineup -- versus our patch-work lineup due to injuries (which I don't mind because the backups are awesome!) The key to this game is going to be defense. Both teams starting rotations rely on their Defense to make the plays behind them. I believe that if we can get to "The Freak" Lincecum and steal game 1, we have a great chance of winning in 4. Our rotation has more playoff experience than theirs does too, which is always a plus.

With that being said, lets go out there and win one for Bobby!

This FanPost does not express the views or opinions of Talking Chop.

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Comments

WC is a ticket to the playoffs.

And that is all you need. The series are so short, it is very random who wins.

That being said, I would much rather have the Giants face the Phillies in the first round; their rotation could shut down any lineup over any three games. I don’t see the Reds beating the Phillies, but as I said, it is pretty random so anything can happen.

That all being said, I wouldn’t mind giving the Phillies some payback in the NLCS either.

by cavebird on Oct 4, 2010 9:42 AM EDT reply actions

All the Braves have to do

is go 11-7. That’s very doable.

If I have to explain my username to you, you're obviously a Philly fan.

"Kill my boss?! Do I dare live out the American dream?" - Homer Simpson

by Sir Veza on Oct 4, 2010 9:47 AM EDT reply actions

11-8*

If I have to explain my username to you, you're obviously a Philly fan.

"Kill my boss?! Do I dare live out the American dream?" - Homer Simpson

by Sir Veza on Oct 4, 2010 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions

who "not" to pitch to.

we will have to see if Posey has stage fright because he will be an unknown (we did not see him the first of the year)
I see the real villian as Burrell….he seems to know how to hit the “crushing” blows against us!

it just felt right and the chance to go to the postseason is hard to pass up. I’ve always respected their orginization… and Bobby…I’m excited. I’m looking forward to it...Derrek Lee (at press conference sayiing he had been traded to the Braves)

by bravestatoo on Oct 4, 2010 11:06 AM EDT reply actions

I'll take a playoff ticket any time that I can.

But lets not kid ourselves: a division win would’ve been outrageously better for us due to our Home-Away splits this year.

by soup du jour on Oct 4, 2010 12:19 PM EDT reply actions

Lincecum hasn’t been quite as great this year, and we always seem to hit him a little hard. I ain’t skeered. I think if we take one in San Fran during these first two games, we can come home and do our thing.

I’m most scared of catching the Phillies in the NLCS. But I think they’re scared of us too, which is why they seemed to be playing spoiler this weekend.

by Sarahbeth on Oct 4, 2010 12:30 PM EDT reply actions

which worked out well with San Diego winning 2/3 from the Giants

Now they have to play the only team in the NL that can slug it out with them.

Time for Votto to earn himself an MVP trophy.

If I have to explain my username to you, you're obviously a Philly fan.

"Kill my boss?! Do I dare live out the American dream?" - Homer Simpson

by Sir Veza on Oct 4, 2010 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Phillies aren't scared

They took out their regulars early, pitched their #5 starter, pitched a rookie who shut us out, and used the last game to get everyone some work in, and still almost swept us at our own ballpark in a must win situation for us and a meaningless situation for them.

by DreamWithinADream on Oct 4, 2010 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions

There's something to be said for playing without pressure...

In the playoffs, both the Phillies and the Braves will have pressure to win. The Phillies could have been swept by the Braves, and they would have been in the same position they are in now. The Braves had a ton of pressure on them. Thus, I am not convinced that the Braves and the Phillies under similar circumstances are that far apart. Just my opinion.

"You can't print what I said, but they have to catch us." - Chipper Jones

by Jman781 on Oct 4, 2010 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions

The Phillies want nothing to do with us…that’s why they pitched Halladay, Oswalt and Hamels against us. I don’t think we’ll beat the Phillies if both of us make it to the NLCS, but I do think the Reds can beat the Phillies, and we can beat the Reds.

"Tony Gwynn made sacrifices. Cal Ripken made sacrifices. I'm not sure Derek Jeter made sacrifices given the ungodly deep pockets the Yankees have." - Chipper Jones

by MBL1 on Oct 4, 2010 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions

THIS

If Albert played in the AFL, they’d have to rename it the AZ/NM Fall League, based on where his homers landed.

by Yakker on Oct 4, 2010 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions

If

we make it to the NLCS and play the Phils, I think we can beat them.

by Braves24 on Oct 4, 2010 8:51 PM EDT up reply actions

We'll use the strategy we used earlier this season.

Just win the series!

"Tony Gwynn made sacrifices. Cal Ripken made sacrifices. I'm not sure Derek Jeter made sacrifices given the ungodly deep pockets the Yankees have." - Chipper Jones

by MBL1 on Oct 4, 2010 2:33 PM EDT reply actions

Let's be realistic.

The Phillies aren’t scared of anybody. They are the two-time defending pennant winners and they are loaded again. On paper, they are probably the favorites to win the World Series: good hitting, three great starters.

Fortunately, they don’t play the games on paper. I don’t think the Reds have a great shot at beating them (Reds just don’t have the pitching), but in a short series, anything can happen. Same with the Phillies or the Braves vs. any playoff team.

by cavebird on Oct 4, 2010 3:08 PM EDT reply actions

Correct...

And the Phillies line-up has gone cold in the past…It’s wishful thinking, but I kind of want Philly in the NLCS, assuming we make it.

"You can't print what I said, but they have to catch us." - Chipper Jones

by Jman781 on Oct 4, 2010 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Volquez, Cueto, and Arroyo

are no “H2O” but Arroyo has been there before (with the Bo’ Sox). Remember the hype around Volquez in 08? If he’s on, he’s lights out. I believe he even has a higher K/9 ratio than any of the H2O’ers. I also hear that Wood guy is pretty good too.

If anybody is going to have a chance at whooping some Philly ass, besides us, the Reds have the best chance to do it. The X-Factor is going to be their starting pitchers. Like I said, if good Volquez, Cueto, and Arroyo show up. Be afraid Phaillies. Be very afraid.

If I have to explain my username to you, you're obviously a Philly fan.

"Kill my boss?! Do I dare live out the American dream?" - Homer Simpson

by Sir Veza on Oct 4, 2010 8:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Plus

The Reds have a pretty insane bullpen, including Cordero, Masset, Rhodes, and of course Champan and Bailey and Wood.

The Reds have some pretty nice arms, and they play good D. And they’ve got some legit hitters on that team (Votto, Bruce, Rolen, Phillips) and some guys who can get hot at the right time (Stubbs, Gomes). They’re not push-overs.

If Albert played in the AFL, they’d have to rename it the AZ/NM Fall League, based on where his homers landed.

by Yakker on Oct 4, 2010 8:44 PM EDT up reply actions

I disagree.

If anybody had the best chance to beat them other than us, it is the Giants. That rotation in a 3 out of 5 series can throw 3 shutouts at anybody. Those pitchers have a ton of talent. Their offense isn’t so good, which makes us a pretty even matchup with them, but I think they would have the best shot, even if it is three 1-0 games.

by cavebird on Oct 4, 2010 9:51 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree the Giants have a killer starters

but think of it like this. Someone is eventually going to score a run. One mistake it is all it takes.

Given that, which lineup do you think is more capable of scoring off one mistake? SanFran or Cincinnati against the Philly?

My vote is for the Reds.

If I have to explain my username to you, you're obviously a Philly fan.

"Kill my boss?! Do I dare live out the American dream?" - Homer Simpson

by Sir Veza on Oct 5, 2010 8:47 AM EDT up reply actions

The last time an NL team won 3 consecutive pennants, it was World War II.

There’s a reason it hasn’t happened since. It’s difficult. Let’s repay Philly for 1993 when they ruined OUR shot at 3 straight.

"Jason Heyward was a Greek philosopher reincarnated as a baseball player." - Don Sutton

by UMDBHIK on Oct 4, 2010 8:39 PM EDT reply actions

True...Gotta love paybacks

I would love for the Braves to dispatch the Phils in the NLCS but first thing’s first…beating the Giants. I think the Braves beat Lincecum in Atlanta this year but irregardless, they look to be in a better position than some of their playoff counterparts.

by Disciple of Carolina on Oct 5, 2010 2:13 AM EDT reply actions