Braves

[msstate7]

We've got folty and sanchez going the next 2 days vs a struggling team. Hopefully they pitch well and the nats help us some. This is becoming real... don't blow it braves

[MetEdDawg]

If we can sweep the Giants that would give us a minimum 4.5 game lead (Phillies would have to sweep their DH today and win tomorrow) with 14 games left to play. Gonna be hard for them to come back on this.

If we keep hitting like we are we win the division. I'll also say that it was obvious after the first batter that Newcomb had his really good stuff. I texted my buddy after the first batter and told him that Newcomb was going to dominate and he did. 6 innings, 3 hits, no walks, 8 strikeouts. 66% of pitches were strikes. Much better performance from him. His motion was easy and not labored, and he was able to command the FB well enough. If he's doing that, we will be tough to beat.

[msstate7]

6.5-game lead
Magic number is 12
17 games to go

I think it's about time to plan for postseason. I really hope they clinch next Saturday sept 22nd bc I'll be there

[Matty Dispatch]

6.5-game lead
Magic number is 12
17 games to go

I think it's about time to plan for postseason. I really hope they clinch next Saturday sept 22nd bc I'll be there

You need to start planning a date prior to the playoffs to start a thread saying we are going to blow it. It will ensure us victory in the Division Series.

Just kidding.....but only a little bit....it's uncanny how many times you've said we are about to tank or get overtaken only to see the team win 8 of the next 10 or go out west and win 5 of 6, etc. I've thought this team would hit a wall at some point like the Phillies have but they just keep on finding ways to win.

[shoeless joe]

It's a long season...but we're hitting the short rows now. The streakiness of this team is only thing holding me back from thinking it's a done deal.

[msstate7]

You need to start planning a date prior to the playoffs to start a thread saying we are going to blow it. It will ensure us victory in the Division Series.

Just kidding.....but only a little bit....it's uncanny how many times you've said we are about to tank or get overtaken only to see the team win 8 of the next 10 or go out west and win 5 of 6, etc. I've thought this team would hit a wall at some point like the Phillies have but they just keep on finding ways to win.

Don't worry... I can come up with a total melt and dooms day prediction at the drop of the hat haha

I just think it's over. The Phillies are playing abysmal ball right now. 538 puts braves odds at winning east at 96% right now... let's just hope they're better at baseball than presidential elections

[MetEdDawg]

Here's some fun math. If we go 9-8 over our last 17, the Phillies have to go 16-2 and the Nats have to go 17-0 in order to pass us.

We aren't losing the division unless we just completely collapse, and this team is entirely too good to completely collapse.

[msstate7]

Stretch run:
Braves...
1 at Giants
3 vs nats
3 vs cards
4 vs Phillies
3 at Mets
3 at Phillies

Phillies...
1 vs nats
3 vs marlins
3 vs Mets
4 at braves
4 at Rockies
3 vs braves

Anything can happen, but if you're betting Phillies at this point, you're betting extreme longshot. The braves are the better team... run differential = braves +102, Phillies -16. The Phillies pen resembles the braves' during our epic crash in 2011. I've been a doomsday guy most the season, but snit and company appear to be hitting their stride again at the right time.

[shoeless joe]

Speaking of snit....he creates some questions in terms of strategy on occasion BUT there is no doubt that the strength of this team; playing hard for nine innings and being resilient, is directly related to his strength as a manager. He is very similar to Bobby in that regard...way more so than anyone else they could have hired.

[Dawg61]

6.5 game lead. It's over. Braves are in. Giants have totally collapsed since before trading Cutch to Yanks. Guaranteed win vs them today. Giants couldn't score 4 runs if you gave them a runner on 2nd at the beginning of each inning. Stopped watching them about twenty games ago. They are total dogshit. Dumbasses have about $90 mill a year tied into 5 players giving them almost 0 production all year long. (Bumgarner, Cueto, Samardicksucker, Pence, Melancon)

[Matty Dispatch]

I hope Folty can have a couple of those complete game gems in the playoffs like he's had a couple times this year than who knows. The starting pitching is unproven in the postseason but when they are good they could be good enough to keep the bullpen out of it for the most part. At least we are going to make it back again.....the Braves playing in October just feels right.

[MetEdDawg]

I hope Folty can have a couple of those complete game gems in the playoffs like he's had a couple times this year than who knows. The starting pitching is unproven in the postseason but when they are good they could be good enough to keep the bullpen out of it for the most part. At least we are going to make it back again.....the Braves playing in October just feels right.

My biggest concern is the lack of playoff experience. Got a couple leaders like Freeman and Markakis who have been but have had little success once they got there. Then you have so many with zero experience. Good thing is that this team is talented. If we are full strength going into the playoffs we are going to be very difficult to beat.

[Matty Dispatch]

My biggest concern is the lack of playoff experience. Got a couple leaders like Freeman and Markakis who have been but have had little success once they got there. Then you have so many with zero experience. Good thing is that this team is talented. If we are full strength going into the playoffs we are going to be very difficult to beat.

Really this year is all about gaining that playoff experience. And hopefully at the very least they can push a Division Series to 5 games or even win it and make it to the NLCS. Anything beyond that is gravy.....but if we make the World Series and lose in 6 or 7 games that would still be devastating.

[smootness]

We will have to lose at least 5 of the 7 remaining against the Phillies to potentially lose the division.

[msstate7]

7.5-game lead
Magic number is 10
16 games to go

Print the shirts

[Matty Dispatch]

It would be fun to clinch vs. the Phillies but it may be the Nationals that are in 2nd place by the time the Braves clinch. The Phillies collapse is remarkably bad: 10-23 since August 8th.....the last day they had sole possession of 1st place.

[shoeless joe]

It would be fun to clinch vs. the Phillies but it may be the Nationals that are in 2nd place by the time the Braves clinch. The Phillies collapse is remarkably bad: 10-23 since August 8th.....the last day they had sole possession of 1st place.

What do they metrix say to do during such a collapse?

[msstate7]

The braves are pretty much unwatchable at the moment. Last 5 games...

45.0 ip 38 bb 32 k
BB9 = 7.6
K9 = 6.4

The walks have got to stop. Thank God, the Phillies are in even worse shape than the braves or I'd be really nervous right now. Magic number at 7, and I'm there Saturday... please clinch while I'm there

[MetEdDawg]

The Phillies are going to be the biggest reason we win the division. They've been awful. Any pulse from them over the last month and this series coming up with them would be way more important than it is.

Magic number is 7, so when the Phillies come to town for a 4 game set, we could potentially clinch the division depending on how the Nationals do and if they pass the Phillies.

This team just doesn't know how to win in september. Everyone is tired, games actually mean something, and the majority of the guys on this team have virtually no playoff experience. I think once we get to the playoffs we will be fine. But getting there is going to be ugly. This team is a year early and the youth and inexperience in big time baseball games was partly why we weren't expected to be in this spot. Now we just have to hang on and get there.

[shoeless joe]

This team is and has been streaky all year. That's both bad and good news for the playoffs.

The most frustrating part of this team is the inability to have a shut down inning after the offense gets them back in a game. And this isn't a recent phenomenon...it's been the case in all the low points this year.