Morning Chop: Atlanta Braves News 10/2
Sep 29, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher
Tim Hudson(15) talks to fans and his team following the last game of the regular season against the Philadelphia Phillies at Turner Field. The Braves won 12-5. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Liles-USA TODAY Sports
Morning Chop – Tomahawk Take’s Summary of Atlanta Braves’ News
Youth must once again show the way for Braves
There is something warmly familiar about the makeup of this Braves postseason roster. A fond faraway memory stirs. Something mindful of really good days bygone.
There are so many young players in high places. So much uncertainty – and yet, a sense of anticipation – about how all of this youth will handle the playoff stress. Such a strong reliance upon the unproven.
Those of a certain age can squint real hard and see traces of 1991 in this mix.
“A lot of similarities with that team in general, but particularly with the starting rotation,” said Tom Glavine, a key player in the worst-to-first season of ’91 that began a Braves run of postseasons that stretched over two decades.
“You’ve got a situation where you’ve got a bunch of talented guys who are relatively inexperienced – certainly in a postseason atmosphere,” Glavine said. “I think there’s a lot of curiosity from people about what these guys are going to do or how (the inexperience) is going to influence the team’s chances.” In ’91, the worst-to-first turnaround was largely accomplished by a young and restless core that introduced itself by winning a (different than today) divisional race on the next-to-last day of the regular season. It then went to the seven-game limit in both the NLCS and the World Series.
2013 MLB Playoffs: Dan Uggla off Roster is Best for Atlanta Braves
There are a lot of things to like about Dan Uggla, second baseman for the Atlanta Braves. Unfortunately there are a lot of negative things about his 2013 performance that just cannot be ignored by Fredi Gonzalez and the coaching staff. Though he did have over 20 home runs, there were just way too many strikeouts and way too many at-bats in a row where nothing happened to help the team. There is an article on the Braves official site that suggests Uggla could sit out the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He should sit it out for the good of himself and the team.
NLDS 2013: Step-by-Step Guide for Atlanta Braves to Win the Series
I won’t sugarcoat it—the Atlanta Braves are heavy underdogs in their series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Just check out ESPN’s expert predictions for the postseason if you need any proof; the overwhelming consensus is that Atlanta will get bounced in the first round by Los Angeles.
And with Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke starting Games 1 and 2, it’s certainly easy to see why. However, the Braves can pull out three wins against the Dodgers in a short series.
Facing Dodgers, Braves relish underdog label
The Atlanta Braves have assumed a self-proclaimed role as the postseason underdog — and they like it.
While their claim that nobody expected them to win the National League East might be a bit of a stretch, there is little room for debate that when their NL Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers opens on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET, 5:30 p.m. PT, on TBS, the Braves, home-field advantage and all, will definitely be in that underdog role.
The Braves may have their hottest pitcher of late in Kris Medlen, the NL Pitcher of the Month in September, ready to start Game 1, but the spotlight will be shining on his Dodger counterpart, lefty Clayton Kershaw, the odds-on favorite to claim his second NL Cy Young Award in three years.