Will the Braves get swept in Philly?

[AHF]

Woo hoo! I am glad we made it in. Now is the time for Heyward to dominate and for Cincinnati to get red hot versus Philly. Domo arigato, Mr. Joey Votto.

[CBAreject]

Well as I predicted they just got their foot in the door to make it to the playoffs. Do they have a chance against San Fran? Actually, I think they do. But Philly is waiting to crush the winner anyway so what does it matter.

Philly is expected to crush the winner and coast to the WS and likely win it. Do any of us doubt they will do just that? Wouldn't it be shocking if they lost? But how many years were we the heavy favorite, going in with the NL's best record, but we got bounced in the NLCS? The 1993 and 1998 powerhouses (104 and 106 wins) that had dominant pitching and stellar offenses lost in 6 games in the NLCS to a team with 6 or 8 fewer regular season wins.

Edited October 4, 2010 by CBAreject

[Dexmethylphenidate]

Chances are slim now that Prado's injured, but I believe the Braves would've had a chance if they didn't trade away Escobar and Blanco. The bottom of the order is not producing anything since the trade. The Braves were hitting and walking like a contender (as hot as the Yankees or Phillies) before those trade and called ups (McClouth, Diaz). Defense in the field can only take you so far...pitching is the only defense that matters anyhow.

[APE]

Chances are slim now that Prado's injured, but I believe the Braves would've had a chance if they didn't trade away Escobar and Blanco. The bottom of the order is not producing anything since the trade. The Braves were hitting and walking like a contender (as hot as the Yankees or Phillies) before those trade and called ups (McClouth, Diaz). Defense in the field can only take you so far...pitching is the only defense that matters anyhow.

How the **** would Yunel give the Braves a better chance? 238/.334/.284 (.618 OPS) 0 HR's

[Dexmethylphenidate]

Since the trade, Yunel is playing better: (1) .340 OBP versus .291 OBP for Gonzalez, (2) hitting .275 versus .240 for Gonzales.

Right now the Braves need hitters or someone to even get on base. Gonzales strike out too much, when he's not hitting he doesn't do anything else (eg: take a ball, work the pitcher). With Yunel being here, it decrease the likelihood of an automatic out at the bottom of the order. Same with Blanco.

Edited October 5, 2010 by Playa

[Eddielives]

Yunel didn't do much of jack in Toronto. But the Blanco trade is looking like a terrible deal for the Braves. Farnsworth has sucked and let's not get started about Ankiel. Blanco was a very solid player who has FAR outplayed any center fielder the Braves trotted out there this season.

[Dexmethylphenidate]

Blanco also has an OBP of .348. They're only behind the 1-5 hitters with respect to OBP and better than everyone else on the roster other than Hinske who's just a notch below.

A lineup of Infante, Prado, Heyward, McCann, Lee, Hinske, Yunel, Blanco, Pitcher looks pretty effective against any pitcher.

[APE]

Since the trade, Yunel is playing better: (1) .340 OBP versus .291 OBP for Gonzalez, (2) hitting .275 versus .240 for Gonzales.

Right now the Braves need hitters or someone to even get on base. Gonzales strike out too much, when he's not hitting he doesn't do anything else (eg: take a ball, work the pitcher). With Yunel being here, it decrease the likelihood of an automatic out at the bottom of the order. Same with Blanco.

Yunel also swung at 1st pitches too much. Everyone knows about Gonzo's K's, that's what he's been doing all of his career. Why not comparing SLG% between the two? Oh yeah, Yunel's was probably worse than Tim Hudson's.

Umm and the biggest one, teammates respect and like Gonzo. Yunel, not so much. Why would Gonzo get a standing O when he first walked in the clubhouse?

[CBAreject]

Yunel also swung at 1st pitches too much. Everyone knows about Gonzo's K's, that's what he's been doing all of his career. Why not comparing SLG% between the two? Oh yeah, Yunel's was probably worse than Tim Hudson's.

Umm and the biggest one, teammates respect and like Gonzo. Yunel, not so much. Why would Gonzo get a standing O when he first walked in the clubhouse?

The truth is, the Braves fell *ss-backwards into a line-up that was leading the league in OBP, so they traded for a few swing and miss guys to ruin the good thing they had goin'. I've been dreaming the Braves would wise up to OBP and OPS for years, but they're still stupid about statistics.

[DrReality]

If Cox has any magic left there is no reason to save it for another night. Down one with two innings left.