Archive for August, 2009

If the loss to the lowly Padres in extra innings Tuesday night left the Braves dazed and wobbly, Wednesday’s blow, for all intents and purposes, knocked them out.  I think it’s time we, too, got a whiff of the smelling salts and faced reality: the Braves are not going to the playoffs.  And you know what?  I think I am okay with it.  Why?  Two words:  Frank Wren. That’s right, the Atlanta Braves’ diligent deal maker, who resembles more a slick 80′s movie villain with a warehouse of suspicious shipments, than the avuncular general manager that was his predecessor, is [...]

As usual, the Atlanta Braves lost the opening game of a series they desperately need to win.  They have shown some resilience by ultimately winning two out of three, but series sweeps is what the doctor ordered if they are to have any hope of making the playoffs.  What made Tuesdays loss to the Padres especially frustrating was that it was at home, against a rookie whose career total number of starts isn’t in double digits, against a team who are behind their division leader by double digits and then some. Jair Jurrjens pitched a near flawless game, but near [...]

What a painful loss for the Atlanta Braves tonight against the San Diego Padres.  The 2-1 extra inning loss was indicative of another offensive struggle for the Braves. Even Martin Prado went 0-6. Without Adam LaRoche, the Braves might be out of  it. He gave the Braves another chance to win but they blew it. San Diego’s pitching staff was unbelievable. But the Braves bullpen kept this game close until Kris Medlen finally gave up a run. What do you make of games like this? Games that the Braves have to win. Games they must win. Contenders win those games. [...]

I say the headline “Atlanta Braves Have Less Than 20 Percent Chance Of Making Playoffs” as a fact and not a question because I trust the brains in two MIT graduates over my own brain. I loved this piece on AJC from Jeff Schultz that explains why and how two guys who started this numbers and odds Web site in 2005 called “CoolStandings.com” are saying the Braves chances aren’t good. Sure, it fires up us Braves fanatics, but the reality of it all shook me. I’m shaken. This Web site, of which I have never heard until today, gives the [...]

The Atlanta Braves came back in the 8th inning to score two runs, beating the Florida Marlins 7-5 and winning the three game series 2 to 1. Since losing a series to the Philadelphia Phillies, the Braves have won every series  since then. Tonight’s hero was Matt Diaz, who hit a triple and four hits, and Brian McCann, who knocked in the winning runs with a single. The Braves are now 6.5 out of first place in the division and 3.5 games out of the wildcard race. If the San Fransisco Giants beat the Colorado Rockies tonight, then the Braves [...]

It’s hard to believe that if the seasons ends with the Atlanta Braves in the playoffs, Yunel Escobar has the opportunity to be MVP. Without his incredible slugging percentage, the Braves could just be out of this race. But they are right in the thick of it. The Braves beat the Marlins 4 to 3 today. The rubber game is tomorrow. Unfortunately, winning two and losing one isn’t going to get the Braves anywhere fast. Even the Nationals had a 10-game winning streak. But such a streak has eluded the Braves for far too long.  The Braves can win five [...]

Atlanta Braves pitcher Kenshin Kawakami, with his 6-9 record, didn’t hit the major leagues with the huge splash some expected him to have this year. But when he faces some of the game’s best pitchers, he is lights out. Kawakami outdueled Johan Santana is a series sweep of the New York Mets. The game was reminiscent of Kawakami’s gem against Roy Haladay. And then there was Boston’s Daisuke Matsuzaka. Kawakami helped the Braves win all of those games, with a 0.96 ERA. It is hard to believe the 34 year old is a rookie in MLB. But he is. The [...]

Forty-two-year-old John Smoltz is back in the National League after an emarrassing quarter season with the Boston Red Sox. The aging former Brave signed with the St. Louis Cardinals today, but there is not much indication how the Cardinals plan to use him. Smoltz didn’t look good at all in Boston, and many saw a guy who had nothing left on the mound after several major surgeries. But, like many ball players, he still wants to play and he cannot walk away from the game. I suspect the Cardinals may try to use Smoltz in relief because I doubt he [...]

The Braves’ game plan for the Phillies was mystifying to say the least: swing for the fences, and show Ryan Howard we aren’t afraid to let him do the same. They should have been afraid.  Very afraid. Over the landscape of three days, Ryan Howard, quite ceremoniously, launched anything close to the strike zone into the Atlanta night sky.  Even he looked taken aback when, late in a tied pivitol game three, Javier Vazquez and Brian McCann started tantalizing him yet again with high inside fast balls.  As his go ahead three run bomb soared over the right field wall [...]

The Atlanta Braves had a perfect opportunity to climb near the top of the National League East, but instead lost two of three games against the league-leading Philadelphia Phillies. I blame it on Bobby Cox’s insistence that he pitch to Ryan Howard after he was powering balls over the fence in the first two games. The Braves had some decent pitching outings in the series, but the Phillies were a tad bit better. Walking Howard could have saved the Braves some runs and earned them a win more in this series. I will have more on this later tonight.