Atlanta Braves Postseason Pace

by gondeee on Sep 6, 2010 8:24 AM EDT

For the rest of the season we'll keep a daily tally of the Atlanta Braves chances of making the post season, 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
Braves	79	58	.577	-	L1	25	94.3%
Phillies	78	59	.569	1	L1	27	72.6%

Dern. That's mostly what you can say about this game. The Braves mounted a great comeback in the sixth, but didn't do anything else the rest of the game. My presence at this game was not enough to turn the tables, and I don't know what it looked like from the TV, but in person the Braves seemed to be playing a bit flat, dragging the whole game.

That's not hard to believe since this was an early day game after a night game, but this is the postseason stretch run and it's time for these players to buckle down, put the rigors of the long season out of their mind and bring it every game. There was a lot of slow walking off the field between innings. No one seemed to have a pep in their step.

Thankfully the Phillies also lost and the Braves still retain sole possession of first place... for now. For some reason it feels inevitable that the Phillies will overtake us at some point. I'm not saying they'll stay if first if they get there, but it just seems like first place in the NL East is going to be swapped back and forth between these two teams for the rest of the season.

Nate McLouth looked good today. Let's hope that's not a mirage. We need at least one of our center fielders to contribute something considerably more than a .200/.300/.300. I won't be convinced of any McLouth resurgence until several back to back games like today.

I never thought I'd say "phew" to hear that Derek Lowe will be able to make his next start. Kenshin Kawakami is done with the Braves one way or another. Maybe pitching more gingerly will make Lowe's sinker more effective, as he won't be trying to overthrow.

Perhaps the only good part about Sunday's loss is that it will give the Marlins momentum heading into their four-game series with the Phillies, which includes a double-header today.

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Look at Lowe’s stats since this elbow problem flared up 5 or 6 weeks ago.

Admittedly, it is a large part speculation and conjecture, but IMO, it is beyond crazy to continue to run him out there.

by fandave on Sep 6, 2010 8:35 AM EDT reply actions

Bring up Beachy

I agree. He couldn’t even comb his hair or brush his teeth with right arm/hand last week. A cortisone shot takes away pain, it doesn’t take the bone chip out of a problematic area of his elbow.

He played catch yesterday and is throwing a pen today. I would not doubt if he struggled today and brought up Beachy to start Wednesday.

In fact, if I were Wren, I’d bring him up now just to have him ready for long relief if Lowe gets banged up or hurts early in Wednesday’s game.

by Braves12 on Sep 6, 2010 8:47 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I was there yesterday as well, and just like you, the word ‘flat’ came to mind. I know we tried to mount a comeback yesterday, but in person, this team looks uninspired. I watched all nine games in Florida this year, and we looked different this series. Even the comeback yesterday was a little weak.

I know I may get pounded for saying this, but this just does not look like a first place team anymore. If things don’t change, we’re looking at the wild card (hopefully). I’m not saying that we need to have a walk-off win every other day, but we need to act like a playoff team. Great teams win on the road. We also need to learn how to score early in the game.

Like gondeee said, it feels like the Phillies are going to overtake us. The scary thing is that the Giants have a very easy schedule for the rest of the year, other than their games with the Padres. Let’s hope that the Dbacks come out to play against them.

by ryantex on Sep 6, 2010 8:46 AM EDT reply actions

Bottom line is...

Losing Chipper was huge. You can’t replace his leadership. Mix in a bullpen getting tired, Lowe’s elbow, KK’s worthlessness, and DLee’s back issues…we’ve got problems.

Luckily, we played well early, but this is not a team that is peaking at the right time, it is one that’s trying to hold on. And that is why Cox is trying to lean on the veterans to pull thru.

by Braves12 on Sep 6, 2010 8:53 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

We have a hall of famer as a manager, so he has kept us going. But in the playoffs (if we make it) it takes some talent, energy, and pitching to win…not sure if we have what we need.

by Braves12 on Sep 6, 2010 8:57 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

So true. Losing Chipper was a very big blow, but you know what was the second biggest blow of the season? Losing Medlen. To win the division and go deep into the playoffs, we needed him.

I think the lineup needs a shake-up. It may sound crazy, but I would like to see Prado leading off again. I know Omar is doing great, but it’s worth a try. We also need someone batting 8th who can actually hit. If McLouth could actually hit .250 for September, it would make such a huge impact.

by ryantex on Sep 6, 2010 9:11 AM EDT up reply actions

They’ve been playing “flat” a lot in the past few weeks. Sunday’s game was not as bad as Friday’s – they looked tired and going through the motions in that game from the first inning.

Our offense is not consistent right now. While it has flashes of greatness, overall we’re still leaving men on base far too much.

The thing that concerns me the most are the errors. I’m not used to watching a BC managed team making so many mental mistakes. At this point in the season, with our slightest of lead, we need to stop beating ourselves by giving the opposition more chances to do damage.

I know they’re tired, but I hope they can focus and stay motivated for these last few weeks.

"Curve: The loveliest distance between two points." ~ Mae West

by NCChopper on Sep 6, 2010 9:41 AM EDT reply actions

I don’t know, this seems like the same team to me as all year. And what I mean by that is this whole season has been like a roller coaster. One week the Braves look like tops in the league and the next week they look like the Bad News Bears. Even most of the players keep going through their own hot and cold streaks, that’s why it appears like there is a different hero or mvp each week. This team leads MLB in comeback wins I believe, and if that is true imagine how easy it could be for us to be 4 or 5 games back right now, much like last season it seemed we always lost one run games.

I still have tons of faith in this team and believe one way or the other we will make the playoffs. The question is then, what side of the “streak” will they be on?

by jbeachbum24 on Sep 6, 2010 10:23 AM EDT reply actions

KK

Is KK really done or is that conjecture on your part, Gondee? Havent seen anything.

by CharlotteChop on Sep 6, 2010 10:39 AM EDT reply actions

Bobby ripped into him after the Marlins game. He never does that publicly.

"Based on stereotypes that are totally untrue and I do not agree with, you would maybe-not be a very good driver..."

"Oh man am I a woman?!"

by Scott Coleman on Sep 6, 2010 2:13 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

If the team is playing so flat

then bring some spark to it.

We called up Freddie and he has only started one game. We continue to trot Derrick “I can’t hit a fastball” Lee out there. At the least we could start Glaus over Lee.

Also Lowe is in no condition to be pitching. We should go ahead and put him on the DL so he can go have surgery and be ready by next Spring Training. Call up Beachy to fill his spot. He can’t be worse than Lowe was last week or Kawakami was for that matter.

Also I’m with you in hoping that Nate can turn it around down the stretch. If he can I actually would rather have him in LF than Melky and keep Ankiel in CF because of his great defense and his cannon of an arm. That would give us a great defensive OF and if Nate is hitting the only weak spot would be Ankiel.

by drumzalicious on Sep 6, 2010 11:51 AM EDT reply actions

Agree – Freddie should get a start or two this series.
Agree with gusto – Lowe should be DLed and Beachy called up.
Agree – Nate should get another look, hopefully today, after showing real life yesterday and getting robbed of a slam.

by fandave on Sep 6, 2010 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions

I think Freddie should start all the time. Use Glaus as a RH PH off the bench. Right now we aren’t getting any production from 1B and I’m sure Freeman can at least match if not do better than what we have been getting lately, plus he is a defensive wiz and will more than likely be an upgrade over Lee in that department anyway

by drumzalicious on Sep 6, 2010 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Too bad we didn't get Charlie Morton

But he pitched yesterday.

by blwfish on Sep 6, 2010 12:55 PM EDT reply actions

If it’s any consolation for today’s loss, the Braves are now only 1/2 game back for best record in the NL.

I’d really like the Braves to have a comfortable lead by the time they play the Phillies next week. The way they’ve been playing on the road lately has been abysmal. They can beat Josh Johnson but not Brian Burres? I just don’t know.

The birth of Jason Heyward was God’s punishment for the sins of the people in New York and Philly.

by TonyAlmeyda on Sep 6, 2010 8:06 PM EDT reply actions