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Atlanta Braves Morning Chop: McCann Rumors Won’t Stop

By Alan Carpenter

Aug 19, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Brian McCann (34) runs after hitting a solo home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the fifth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 19, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Brian McCann (34) runs after hitting a solo home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the fifth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 21, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves second baseman Jace Peterson (8) (far right) reacts with team mates after hitting a walk off home run against the Washington Nationals during the tenth inning at Turner Field. The Braves defeated the Nationals 7-6 in ten innings. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 21, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves second baseman Jace Peterson (8) (far right) reacts with team mates after hitting a walk off home run against the Washington Nationals during the tenth inning at Turner Field. The Braves defeated the Nationals 7-6 in ten innings. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

It took a heroic effort from the Braves’ offense to climb back into the game yesterday, but we will also credit the Washington defense for supporting Atlanta along the way.

The full game recap from Sunday can be read here, so I won’t belabor the point, but Washington is probably lucky to have escaped Atlanta with 3 wins.

They are playing like a tired club, and their pitchers have to be the wearier.

Opposition run totals for the Nats recently:  7, 9, 6, 2, 12, 6, 4, 1, 6, 8.  That’s seven games with Atlanta plus three more in Denver.  From here, the Nats go to Baltimore – not quite home – for one of those stupid 2-and-2 home/home series’ to support inter-league play.  But you know about those Baltimore bats.

Then they get the Rockies again.

I don’t think the Nats pitching is going to be much better off for the next week.

I know – it’s hard to have any sympathy for a club that we aren’t exactly friendly with… never mind that they still enjoy a fat 8.5 game lead over teams on life-support with 6 weeks to go in the season.

But maybe my point here is that the Nats are looking quite vulnerable as we look toward the playoffs.  Shake up their pitching with good hitting and an extra-inning game or two, and … perhaps that’s the formula to get them bounced out of the first round… again.

Next: Please Stop With the McCann Talk

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