Braves fans.....you are not dead yet.

[DawgatAuburn]

You need some help from the Rockies, but with all these games left against the Nats, you have a chance to finish with a flourish. Here's D@A's analysis of what you probably will need. (This is free content BTW.)

1. You need to go 9-2 in the last 11. Considering your current streak of 11-3, that would be a 20-5 mark through the last ~three weeks of the season. If only you hadn't let Gonzales piss away so many games earlier in the year. Included in this would be taking no worse than 2 of 3 with the Marlins, which would take them out of contention. They also finish with the Phillies, who will be trying to clinch the best record in the NL.

2. If you go 9-2, you need the Rockies to go 4-7 to force a playoff. While it is admittedly not likely, it is possible with their schedule. They have two more with the Padres, then three each with the Cards, Brewers and Dodgers. The get Carpenter AND Wainright in that series, which is good for you, and the Cards are also looking for the top NL seed. The Brewers have won 8 of 12, and the only four losses have been to the powerful Chicago Cubs. They have a stated goal of catching the Cubs for second in the Central, so look for them to go hard as well. Then you really need the Dodgers to be fighting for best NL record so they are going all out in that last weekend. A lot of ifs, but nothing far fetched.

3. You need the Giants to go worse than 9-2, and given the way they have been playing, that should not be a problem.

It's the closest thing we have to a race in baseball, so I will actually be pulling for the Braves to make in interesting heading into next weekend.

And if you want Milton Bradley, call us. We can make it happen.

 

[DawgatAuburn]

You need some help from the Rockies, but with all these games left against the Nats, you have a chance to finish with a flourish. Here's D@A's analysis of what you probably will need. (This is free content BTW.)

1. You need to go 9-2 in the last 11. Considering your current streak of 11-3, that would be a 20-5 mark through the last ~three weeks of the season. If only you hadn't let Gonzales piss away so many games earlier in the year. Included in this would be taking no worse than 2 of 3 with the Marlins, which would take them out of contention. They also finish with the Phillies, who will be trying to clinch the best record in the NL.

2. If you go 9-2, you need the Rockies to go 4-7 to force a playoff. While it is admittedly not likely, it is possible with their schedule. They have two more with the Padres, then three each with the Cards, Brewers and Dodgers. The get Carpenter AND Wainright in that series, which is good for you, and the Cards are also looking for the top NL seed. The Brewers have won 8 of 12, and the only four losses have been to the powerful Chicago Cubs. They have a stated goal of catching the Cubs for second in the Central, so look for them to go hard as well. Then you really need the Dodgers to be fighting for best NL record so they are going all out in that last weekend. A lot of ifs, but nothing far fetched.

3. You need the Giants to go worse than 9-2, and given the way they have been playing, that should not be a problem.

It's the closest thing we have to a race in baseball, so I will actually be pulling for the Braves to make in interesting heading into next weekend.

And if you want Milton Bradley, call us. We can make it happen.

 

[fieldman]

And if you want Milton Bradley, call us. We can make it happen.

Haha. Thanks but no thanks. Heyward is probably (hopefully) gonna be ready by next April. We will leave the Cubs to ship the thin skinned Bradley elsewhere

 

[Todd4State]

I don't think anyone is going to have to call the Cubs to get him. If he is not released after the season, I would be shocked.

One thing about teams like the Nats- even though they have been out of it since April, almost all of their positions are up for grabs- except maybe Ryan Zimmerman's- and all of those players know that if they want a Big League job, they have to perform to impress management going into spring training next year. Yes, the Braves will win the series against the Nats in all likelihood, but they won't be gimmies.

Same thing with the Padres in the Rockies series.

But I do agree overall- if the Braves get hot, anything can happen.

 

[mstatefan88]

We SUCK against the Nats. The blog writer for the Braves wrote an article last month talking about how the Braves have a better combined record against the Dodgers, Cardinals, and Phillies, than they do against the Padres, Nats, and Pirates. He went on to say that those teams arent good enough for the Braves to beat, which I thought was funny. We always struggle with the Nats, and the fact that we end with some many games against them kinda worries me. I do feel a whole lot better going in to next season. With McLouth and LaRoche there a full season, and Hanson there for a full year, if we can add another outfield bat in right field, we will be set. Probably need to add another right handed relief pitcher. But we have alot of potential for next year.

 

[DawgatAuburn]

Coming out of the break the Cubs swept them and it looked like more of the same from the Riggleman Nats as from the Acta Nats. But right after that, they starting playing well. I have this "thing" where I don't like any team to lose 100 games, so I watch winning percentages all year to see who is probably going to do so. The Nats, of course, were on pace to lose more than 100. They were 26-66 which would have been a mind-bottling 116 losses. Bu they pulled it together and actually got to 46-82. That's a winning record for 36 games! From that point they only needed to go .500 to avoid losing 100 games on the year. Unfortunately, they hit the skids again, and are 5-17 since then. Now they have to literally win out to stay at 99 losses.

They have got to find and develop more pitching. Lannan is a decent #3 or #4 guy but not a #1. Jordan Zimmerman....that's just sad. Probably won't see him until 2011. And Detwiler can't get big leaguers out.

 

[bendog]

that they lost 5 in a row, including being 17in' swept at home by Cincinnati, a few weeks back. They were within striking distance at that point, and that took them straight out of the wild card race. Dammit.

Playoff teams do not allow things like that to happen down the stretch.

 

[Braves Dawg]

They have never been able to put away the bad teams or rookie pitchers they haven't seen before.

 

[Notch Johnson dawg]

was the difference in the season. They had pulled back close enough to make a run but you can't let that happen at home by the Padres and then swept by the Reds.

In Heyward we trust.

 

[Todd4State]

are probably going to rush Stephen Strasburg up to the Big Leagues. I think he could very well be up sometime next year. They also have Drew Storen, who will likely be their closer of the future. If things work out for them, they could also end up getting high school phenom Bryce Harper.

They're a few years away, but I think that they are finally starting to head in the right direction.

 

[DawgatAuburn]

I know he would sell tickets, but the history of rushed first round pitchers is not exactly great. If they also end up with Bryce Harper, that would be a great starting point. He and Strasburg could come up together, although with the age difference I am sure they are more in a hurry to get Strrasburg to DC. If Harper can remotely hold his own, he'll be in the bigs before he's 20.

 

[KurtRambis4]

is the real deal. He ripped with the M-Braves.

 

[dickiedawg]

look for them to go hard as well.

Sophomoric humor five!

 

[DawgatAuburn]

Well this couldn't be going any better.If you stopped paying attention to America's team, they at least deserve a small part of your sports attention over the weekend. The Rockies lost two to the Padres in part because Jason Marquis is being Jason Marquis again, while the Braves finished off the sweep of the Mets. The Cubs even chipped in with a ninth inning homer to pull out a win over the Giants last night. And now, the Rockies have to deal with Carpenter tonight and Wainright tomorrow night. By Monday morning, this could be reeeeeeally interesting.

Now.....kill the corndogs....

 

[War Machine Dawg]

Even if he's ready, I don't think we'll put him on the club out of spring training. We're being very cautious with him, and rightfully so. We rushed Jordan Shafer, and you saw what happened. We're going to go the Hanson route with Heyward. Give him time, let him prove himself. And most importantly, we'll wait until June to call him up. We won't start his arbitration clock early. Sadly, it's all about the money. I think you'll see Shafer start in CF, McLouth in LF or RF and a Church/Diaz platoon at the other corner until Heyward arrives. And don't count on LaRoche. I think we offer him a one year deal, but there's no way he'll take it. He's gonna go for a bigger contract, and rightfully so. We'll do a rent-a-player for a year until Freddie Freeman is ready in 2011.

 

[War Machine Dawg]

[No message]

 

[Todd4State]

a lot better than Shafer. I've seen both of them play at the TP. Heyward has a chance to be special.

The Braves may very well start him at AAA, but he's good enough to play right now.

Shafer's 50 game suspension for PEDS last year may have put him a little bit behind.

 

[Todd4State]

given the team that they will likely have next year. He's going to play in the Arizona Fall League this winter, and then they will decide where to send him. I'm thinking that he will most likely start out at AA.

Hopefully, they will give him time to develop for his sake.

 

[Irondawg]

It's that or just find the best 1B/3B bargain out there. The Pads would give away Kouzmanoff and outside of Petco he might be decent for not much money.</p>

 

[mstatefan88]

Rockies have a very unfavorable schedule, and the Braves get the Nats 2 out of the last 3 series with the Nats. Maybe we can pull it out.

 

[mstatefan88]

Laroche is playing the best baseball of his career right now. Prado is a fantastic super utility player that can play all infield positions. I think next year we explore the option of getting rid of Kelly Johnson and package him with Kris Medlen and another minor leaguer and get us an outfield bat. Or bring up Jason Heyward and see what he can do and put that package together to get a 3B. Diaz and Anderson would be a very effective platoon next year like they have been this year, and Prado should be playing every day next year. But until we get another bat in the outfield, we cant challenge the Phillies for the division.

 

[War Machine Dawg]

Seriously, why the hell would you take LaRoche out of the lineup? Dude has been crushing and raking since returning to the ATL. And there's no way we move Prado to put KJ in the lineup so he can rack up massive strikeouts aGAIN. The problem we have is that Freddie Freeman should be ready to take over 1B in 2011. We essentially need a 1-year stopgap next season. Who that will be is a good question. Moving Chipper makes no sense, because then you block Freeman's path and make 2B a problem aGAIN. We'll sign a FA 1B, maybe Russell Branyan, to a 1-year deal. I can say with certainty it won't be LaRoche. We'll make the offer, but he'll turn it down for a multi-year deal with someone else. But if by some chance he does take the 1-year deal, problem solved.

Heyward will solve the OF bat problem. The only question is when, April or June. I think June, because we aren't going to want to start his arbitration clock. It'll be the same situation as Hanson. Everyone knows he's ready, but we'll wait to call him up to avoid making him a "Super 4." And if Shafer is ready, next year's OF has serious badass potential. Think about this: CF - Shafer, LF - McLouth, RF - Heyward. There is a VERY good chance that will happen at some point next season. And best of all, Shafer could take over the leadoff spot and allow McLouth to hit farther down the lineup, probably in the 4 hole. How about this for a lineup coming down the stretch next season: 1. Shafer 2. Prado 3. Chipper 4. McLouth 5. McCann 6. Heyward/Escobar 7. Heyward/Escobar 8. 1B 9. P

My biggest concern next season, outside of 1B, is the bullpen. It doesn't look like we're going to be able to re-sign Soriano or Gonzalez. That's going to leave gaping holes at the end of games, especially at closer. We'll make a move for a closer, the only question is who? It'll be interesting to see how we restructure out there. Of course, I think Medlen could step right into the 8th inning setup role with no problems. And Logan & O'Flaherty have been solid. Moylan is a little hit-or-miss, but usually solid. Closer will be the key. Another thing to consider is the logjam in our rotation. I think we'll move Javy in the offseason, possibly for a bat, but I could also see us moving him for a closer & another arm or two for the pen. Regardless, I think he moves, it's just a matter of what we want to get for him and what we think will help the most.

 

[DawgatAuburn]

Two more with the Marlins and four with the Nationals. I'm calling it....a one game playoff between the Rocks and Braves.

 

[fieldman]

Heyward is the best prospect in all of baseball.

Schafer has playing with a broken wrist, also, and that probably was why he played so poorly. Heyward has already proven himself, and if he performs in Spring training, he will the the RF on opening day, not a doubt in my mind. I fully expect the outfield to be Heyward in right, then either Schafer/McClouth in left/center to be our outfield next season.

 

[Oxford Godfrey]

Had to

 

[BlindDawg]

I'd say there is close to zero chance Heyward starts with the Braves next year. Its not about proving himself. The Braves typically move their guys slowly through the system, and he's barely played any in AAA. In today's economy, they are very leery of starting Heyward's arbitration clock, and if they wait just a month or two to bring him up, they put off arbitration for a year and get most of a season's production from him anyway. Look at Tommy Hanson to see how they will handle Heyward. Hanson was probably more ready than Heyward is right now, and they still put him in AAA til June.

Schafer is the wild card, mostly due to the wrist injury. No, he's not as good as Heyward, but he has the tools to be really good also. If he plays well in spring training, I could see them putting him on the team. I could also see them putting him in AAA for a month or two because they did rush him this year. I think his makeup is very good though so I don't expect being rushed this year to hold him back once he's fully healthy. I think the OF for opening day will be McLouth or Diaz in LF, Schafer or McLouth in CF, and Diaz or Church in RF.

Goddfrey, after three years of no playoffs, I'll take a first round exit. Its better than nothing. I really think they'll be a dangerous team though if they get in the playoffs. No one has the pitching that they do. That can take you far. I'm not brave enough to predict how far they'll go, but I think they'll make some noise and be a dangerous team if they get in. Tomorrow's game against Josh Johnson is the key. If they get to him and beat the fish tomorrow, I think they win out and squeak in the playoffs. I BELIEVE!!!!!

 

[BlindDawg]

Strasburg will pitch in the bigs next year - book it. I agree its a terrible idea given the team they'll have next year, but I can't see them keeping him down after all the hype and expectations they've heaped on him.

 

[fieldman]

I don't know. Maybe I'm wrong. I guess it could go either way. But his situation and Hanson's were very different. Hanson would not have made as much of an impact on the team starting opening day as he only pitches once every five days. Heyward can make an immediate impact being the bat the Braves are looking for while not costing them payroll or prospects. I can see him hitting 15-20 home runs with 70-80 RBIs as a rookie next season. A lot depends on if he continues to perform well in the fall league.

I just think with the way LaRoche has been playing and Chipper Jones's outspokenness to keep him, the Braves have little choice but to spend the bucks to keep him in Atlanta, so they will have to look within for the outfielder. I guess they may start the season without Heyward, but not starting him with the way he was played would be a certain mistake. Next spring, I think there is very little doubt that Heyward will give the Braves a better chance to win than Diaz, Church, Goreki, etc.

 

[BlindDawg]

I agree, I think the Braves will pony up for Laroche and figure out the Freeman thing later. Laroche should have good trade value at worst. I'm not disagreeing with you on the impact Heyward can have. I think he's going to be great, but I can almost guarantee he'll start in AAA. They will handle him exactly the way they handled Hanson this year. Its not about impact; its about money and not rushing him. They'll use Diaz or Church as a placeholder until they bring up Heyward. Diaz and Church aren't so bad that they will put the team in a huge hole for a month or two. They will be plenty adequate enough to be a bridge to Heyward. Its the smart move to keep him down for a month or two. That's a small price to pay, with few if any reprecussions in the standings, for basically an extra year of service time.

 

[ArrowDawg]

....pitching staff they've had since the glory days in the 90s. If they can add a little more pop to the lineup in the off-season, the strong finish this year should carry over into a very successful 2010 campaign.