Comments on: Grasping at Straws

By: David

David — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 20:01:30 +0000

“My girlfriend dreads each loss knowing the funk it puts me in.”

Yeah, my girlfriend has that going on too. This year she’s doing ok with the Cubs winning though. I wonder what she’ll be like when the Cubs have a bad year.

By: Section 435 – Counterpoint: What the Braves Need to do to Win

Section 435 – Counterpoint: What the Braves Need to do to Win — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:56:15 +0000

[...] into the All-Star break, I suggested it’s time for the Braves to wave the big white flag on 2008. I think I’m in the minority on that opinion. It’s hard to argue that 6.5 games [...]

By: shaun

shaun — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:29:37 +0000

Bud, thanks for the comments. I don’t disagree that we’re still temptingly close. And you’re right about what needs to happen to get there.

On the other hand, we’re not even a .500 team right now. As I’ve read several places, the Phils are on pace to win 88, which means we’d have to win nearly 2/3 of our remaining games to top them. That’s a hard task for a team that hasn’t won half of it’s first 95.

I’m pretty sure the front office will see it your way, though. And I will be pleased as punch if I have to eat my words at the end of the season.

By: Bud

Bud — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 11:08:20 +0000

Very good post. I don’t agree with the premise of throwing up the white flag when you’re just 6 1/2 games back, but you make a good point: This very well may be a team that’s just going to float around the six or seven games back mark all season long.

However, if the Braves can do something productive in their first nine games after the break (and six of those are ultra-critical: three at Florida, three at Philly), then I expect Atlanta will go out and try to get a power-hitting outfielder to bolster the lineup. If the Braves go, say, 6-3 in these first nine and find themselves four or five games out of first, then there is no way they are going to give up on the rest of the season, not in a division where 86 wins might get it done.

Good post, though. Well written, and I agree the offense has to get going. In my view, there are four things that have to happen for the Braves to have a shot:

Tex and Frenchy have to start producing like we all thought they would this season.

The young starters have to avoid “hitting the wall” innings-wise, as Jurrjens, Reyes, Morton and Campillo are going to hit their career highs in innings pitched.

The Braves have to win when they play the teams ahead of them (27 of the final 67 are against the Phils, Marlins and Mets).

The Braves have to play to win, and not play “not to lose,” which I saw far, far too many times in the first half.

Good blog … will have to start checking this one out.

Bud.
http://braves.today.com

By: shaun

shaun — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 21:07:10 +0000

Seriously. Mark Bradley (who is normally a bit daft) was writing about that today, about how all those pitchers coming back off the DL aren’t going to do us much good when the bats are the problem.

By: JB

JB — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:57:40 +0000

I’m right there with you. My hopefulness has waned and I keep it mostly to maintain optimism and enjoy wins as they come. But until this team gets some real mojo working, it doesn’t really matter who we bring on at the deadline.

I agree with your statements about the white flag too. I don’t think the towel will be tossed in by Wren and with Hampton (oh geez), Glavine, and Diaz returning I think the upper office would say we’ve still got a shot. Slim as it may be.

We’re at that point where the seesaw is teetering just between falling to one side or the other. We’re not 15 games out where it’s clearly time to rebuild, but we’re not exactly in the thick of it. It’s a tough call but until I see some real “magic” (for lack of a better term) it’s gonna look like a long drawn out goodbye to October.

And I’m not a pessimist either!

Excellent post and very well said.

JB@TheLaunchingPad