Tonight, it would be fitting if the members of the Atlanta Braves "Professional" Major League Baseball team, were sitting in their million dollar homes, in Alpharetta, GA, hanging their heads in shame. This weekend, after suffering a three game sweep at the hands of the New York Mets, which has left the Braves 6.5 games out of the National Wild Card, and 7.5 games out of first place in the National League East, hanging their heads in shame, is all this baseball team should be doing!
It is inconcievable to think, that, just three weeks ago, on the night of August 11th, after the Braves 7-5 win that I witnessed at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, that the Braves ended that night only one half game out of the National League Wild Card lead. They have lost six games in the standings in the wild card, and many games in the division standings, in a mere three weeks. While I had always felt that the Mets would likely win the National League East, there is no reason why Atlanta should not have been able to contend for, and win, the wild card. Now, with the season ending a mere four weeks from today, unless a miracle occurs, the Braves can make their offseason plans, for October 1st, 2007, the day after the regular season ends.
The Braves have had shaky starting pitching all through the year, with starters Tim Hudson, and John Smoltz, being their only reliable starting pitchers. This weekend, Atlanta actually had decent starting pitching, but they scored a grand total of four runs in three games, the whole weekend! This for a team that is second in the National League in team batting
average, a mere one point behind the Phillies. One just cannot play the way the Braves did this weekend, and expect to make the playoffs.
So, I concede that the playoff chase is over for the Braves. We will finish at or near 500, with about 81 wins, or a bit more. I dont know what to expect from us in 2008, as the last two seasons have been very disappointing. I thought that our July acquistion of power hitter Mark Texiara would propel us to the wild card. I'm not optimistic about our chances for 2008, as, we might well settle into a mediocre team, who is just good enough to be on the fringes, but not good enough to make the playoffs. Very sad for a team that just two short years ago, had won its 14th straight division title. I guess the old saying is that all good things must come to an end, and this is how it is for the Atlanta Braves, during this period.
Mitch
It is inconcievable to think, that, just three weeks ago, on the night of August 11th, after the Braves 7-5 win that I witnessed at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, that the Braves ended that night only one half game out of the National League Wild Card lead. They have lost six games in the standings in the wild card, and many games in the division standings, in a mere three weeks. While I had always felt that the Mets would likely win the National League East, there is no reason why Atlanta should not have been able to contend for, and win, the wild card. Now, with the season ending a mere four weeks from today, unless a miracle occurs, the Braves can make their offseason plans, for October 1st, 2007, the day after the regular season ends.
The Braves have had shaky starting pitching all through the year, with starters Tim Hudson, and John Smoltz, being their only reliable starting pitchers. This weekend, Atlanta actually had decent starting pitching, but they scored a grand total of four runs in three games, the whole weekend! This for a team that is second in the National League in team batting
average, a mere one point behind the Phillies. One just cannot play the way the Braves did this weekend, and expect to make the playoffs.
So, I concede that the playoff chase is over for the Braves. We will finish at or near 500, with about 81 wins, or a bit more. I dont know what to expect from us in 2008, as the last two seasons have been very disappointing. I thought that our July acquistion of power hitter Mark Texiara would propel us to the wild card. I'm not optimistic about our chances for 2008, as, we might well settle into a mediocre team, who is just good enough to be on the fringes, but not good enough to make the playoffs. Very sad for a team that just two short years ago, had won its 14th straight division title. I guess the old saying is that all good things must come to an end, and this is how it is for the Atlanta Braves, during this period.
Mitch
