August 6, 200421 yr Injuries: No key injuries. Giles and Drew are day to day and Horacio Hornblower Ramirez is on the 60 day DL. Offense: After Chipper (14), Andruw (17) and Drew (24), there isnt a whole lot of power. And for every career year from guys like Estrada (.329), there is Chipper (.238). They are platooning LFers: Charles Thomas and Eli Marrero. Both are playing very well, but both have to keep performing at their current level in order to keep this team going. 1B is similar to LF situation in that they will have to platoon Franco and LaRoche. Overall analysis, solid lineup, but fragile in that they are overly dependent on career years from some players. A key injury could destroy this lineup. Pitching: Starting five is solid, not overpowering. Wright is having a career year and Ortiz is as solid as ever. Byrd is still recovering from injury, but still solid. Thomson and Hampton both have higher ERAs and can be inconsistent. Bullpen is anchored by Smoltz, as usual. Cruz, Reitsma, Grybowski, Alfonseca have all been very consistent in setting up for the season. Bullpen is strong, but susceptible to blowing it. Overall analysis: Get into their starters early and beat them. How does this figure into our season? If we can just become more consistent and keep winning games in bunches, the Braves will have the pressure of overperforming looming over their heads. To beat the champ you have to knock out the champ. The Braves are solid enough to give it a good, strong run. But they are susceptible to some struggles - as they have really not had any as of yet. They cannot keep outperforming and winning. Something will give. As long as the Marlins can keep winning and in bunches and avoid long losing streaks, they will get back in this thing very quickly. Then, we will have to worry about the Phillies too...
August 6, 200421 yr you forgot to mention the braves dont know how to freaking lose and their pitching coach makes rejects look like cy young winners damn the braves
August 6, 200421 yr It seems like wishful thinking that the Braves are going to buckle and fall back into the pack. They are healthy and playing with the confidence they can win it all. I don't see anyone catching them at this point.
August 6, 200421 yr It seems like wishful thinking that the Braves are going to buckle and fall back into the pack. They are healthy and playing with the confidence they can win it all. I don't see anyone catching them at this point. 498361[/snapback] Me either, but we do have 6 games against them....we need to cut their lead, that's for sure. If we're under 5 games back by September, we should definitely make a push.
August 6, 200421 yr same weaknesses we figured they'd have coming into the season. and yet here we are.
August 6, 200421 yr The Braves biggest weakness is that some players are either extremely old or extremely young. That doesn't fare well because when the older players have an injury, the younger players become a disaster as they did earlier this season.
August 6, 200421 yr they have no weakness they are playing great ball while The Joneses are having sub-par seasons The Braves will probably keep winning, we just gotta gain 1 game per week
August 6, 200421 yr It would be awesome if we could sweep em once before the year's out which is highly unlikely.
August 6, 200421 yr if the playoffs are on the line and we play the braves, we'll sweep them if we are within 4 games when we play the braves we'll sweep them If we can just smell the playoffs we'll sweep them we just have to pick up a couple of games before we play them
August 6, 200421 yr The bullpen was pretty shaky before acquiring Cruz and Reitsma in ST. Especially with Alfonseca and Almanza doing shaky the past few years, But Alfonsecas throwing strikes, Almanzas sent down, Reitsma is pitching good, Cruz is pitching great, Gryboski's still getting tons of ground balls, and the big guy in the 9th. Also the acquisition of Tom Martin as there lefty is an upgrade over Almanza or McConnel who was more of a long relief guy. The Pen went from reel shaky going in to ST to very solid in August. But speeking of Offense i dont know how much longer its going to be to figure out Charles Thomas and for Marerro to start playing like Marerro. The bad news is Chipper can only get better and Jd Drew looks like he's come around. I dont know how much longer the Rotation is going to pitch like this. I think Hampton will start pitching like the Hampton of late soon and Thmoson just sucks.
August 6, 200421 yr The reason we won't beat the Braves is that they have a longer and better lineup, a deeper starting rotation, and a stronger bullpen. That and they are 6 games up.
August 6, 200421 yr I dont think there bullpen is really better than ours, this Year Mando has a better ERA and only one more blown save than Smoltz, we have a better setup man which is huge, a better lefty, If Kock pitched like he can thats a Really good bullpen, especailly if Seanez pitches well which hes shown in the past he can do. I dont MAnzys done
August 6, 200421 yr Martin has been doing very well for them, and the pen on a whole is doing extremely well. Even pitchers that shouldn't be doing well are (SEE: Alfonseca)
August 6, 200421 yr Martin has been doing very well for them, and the pen on a whole is doing extremely well. Even pitchers that shouldn't be doing well are (SEE: Alfonseca) 498622[/snapback] Screw killing the Braves lets just kill Mazzone :killthemall
August 6, 200421 yr I think the season will come down to our games against them since we will control our own fate. So the key is of course beating them but we have to keep it close as well.
August 6, 200421 yr Author I will take our offense over theirs. We have better players in quite a few positions: Cabs > Marrero/Thomas Lowell > C.Jones Castillo/Giles? very close Conine > Franco/LaCockaRoche Lo Duca > Estrada JP < A.Jones Andruw gets nod, but I can live with JP Enc < Drew AGon = Furcal
August 6, 200421 yr Author More statistical analysis on the Braves: They had the following records by month: April 11-10 May 14-15 June 12-15 July 20-6 August 3-1 That is 2 month over .500 (if you count April and August is yet to be determined) 45-42 PreASB 15-5 PostASB Of the teams they have played since Jul 1st, only Philadelphia, Boston and us (then) are over .500. In other words, they didnt really play any tough games in July and got on a roll. Something we should have done, yes, but the Braves have their work cut out for them ahead. Just like us, they have to face off against SD, LA, STL, SF and the NL East. The only team to play better against the NL East than us is the Braves. We need to really come out strong and win against the NL West and hope that the Braves falter. I think if we can make up one game a week leading up to the series against the Braves, we got a very good shot.
August 6, 200421 yr I will take our offense over theirs. We have better players in quite a few positions: Cabs > Marrero/Thomas Lowell > C.Jones Castillo/Giles? very close Conine > Franco/LaCockaRoche Lo Duca > Estrada JP < A.Jones Andruw gets nod, but I can live with JP Enc < Drew AGon = Furcal 498679[/snapback] too bad games arent played on paper
August 6, 200421 yr Author I will take our offense over theirs.? We have better players in quite a few positions: Cabs > Marrero/Thomas Lowell > C.Jones Castillo/Giles?? very close Conine > Franco/LaCockaRoche Lo Duca > Estrada JP < A.Jones? Andruw gets nod, but? I can live with JP Enc < Drew AGon = Furcal 498679[/snapback] too bad games arent played on paper 498716[/snapback] You mean, they're not? :blink:
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.