About these Atanta Braves...

[Rick Cleveland]

Seriously, you could not make this stuff up....

http://msfame.com/featured/you-couldnt-make-these-braves-up/

 

[BiscuitEater]

Like I said before ...

Seriously, you could not make this stuff up....

Teams are going to make ~27 outs ... Doesn't matter much 'how many' of those are strike outs ... it matters 'what' they do between and before those strikeouts.

The Braves, as a team, have struck out a National League high 1,063 times. The Upton brothers have combined for 246 of those. </SPAN>Braves are now 76-48, lead the Washington Nationals by 15.5 games and have the best record in baseball.</SPAN>

 

[klong-dog]

You left out an injury, one of the Braves main setup guys and has been for the last 2/3 years, Eric Oflarrety. Been out for 3 months and will be out all year. Tommy John I believe.

 

[KurtRambis4]

I have a feeling

that they could have a quicker than expected exit from the postseason.

 

[o_fredgarvin]

Perhaps these guys are just winners.

 

[Steakonastick]

They could win it all or get swept first series. They are very streaky.

 

[dawgstudent]

So everything will be normal?

 

[starkvegasdawg]

I figured Uggla had 246 k's all by himself. It seems with him every at bat is either a hr or k.

 

[Rockydawg]

So everything will be normal?

This. A thousand times this.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

Yessir.

 

[Curby]

Some things have fallen into place. Julio Tehran came into his own this year. Minor (except for 2 poor outings lately that were affected by rain) has figured out how to pitch like an ace. Medlen has come on strong after having poor run support in his first several starts. Relief guy Walden has been a steal. Avilan and Carpenter throwing bullets. Wood a hotshot rookie pitching lights out. Jury still out on Beachy and what he can do going forward. Kimbrel is Kimbrel.

Freeman is clutch. Chris Johnson (a by-product of the Upton Deal) has been a steal, and playing like an mvp. Simmons making even superhuman plays look routine, and has not disappointed with the bat. McCann is McCann...one of top backstops in the game. J. Up with another walkoff the other night. Shaeffer, when he's in there is as scrappy as they come.

And I have been pleased with about 95% of the decisions Fredi has made.

All that to say...it will be disappointing if this is not a World Series year.

 

[msstate7]

that they could have a quicker than expected exit from the postseason.

@Jim_Powell If the Braves win 1 in STL this weekend, they will have won season series vs Cards, Bucs, LAD, Reds, all the playoff contenders

Braves-tigers World Series -- I hope

 

[KurtRambis4]

As stated

the other day, the Dodgers they faced in May/June are not the Dodgers that have won 40+ games in their last 51...and yes, I realize the Braves may be better than they were then, too.

However, as of right now, the Dodgers are most likely playing the best baseball in the NL, if not MLB.

 

[msstate7]

Since break -- dodgers 25-4
Braves 22-7

I wouldn't say the dodgers are clearly better since the break

 

[KurtRambis4]

I don't

think you'll find too many people that will argue that the Braves are playing better than the Dodgers since July. Maybe Chipper Jones and Bobby Cox, but that's about it.

 

[msstate7]

I'm not saying the braves are playing better, but they are playing just as well since the break IMO

 

[dawgs.sixpack]

that they could have a quicker than expected exit from the postseason.

agreed. i don't think the starting pitching is there tbh. hudson is out for the year. maholm is hurt and probably shouldn't be relied on as a top 3 SP in a playoff series if you expect to win. minor, teheran, medlen, and wood have all either already surpassing or are about to surpass their career high in IP, add on another month and a half of regular season IP plus playoffs and it's hard to predict how those guys will be throwing come the playoffs. and beachy can't really be counted on, anything he gives would be a nice bonus. plus will they really wanna push him to go deep in playoff games?

just a lot of question marks with the starting staff right now.

 

[KurtRambis4]

This is

just not the case. The dodgers have a better W% in that time frame, against teams with a better W% (compared W% of the teams the braves played).

 

[KurtRambis4]

My biggest thing

with their staff is the inexperience. As you said, they're approaching their career highs in IP and you just never know how they'll react to uncharted territory.

 

[msstate7]

with their staff is the inexperience. As you said, they're approaching their career highs in IP and you just never know how they'll react to uncharted territory.

How much postseason experience do the dodgers have?

 

[msstate7]

Brave starters are much better than you give them credit for. The braves have the best era in the mlb. They also have the best bullpen in the majors with arguably the best closer.

 

[KurtRambis4]

Well

they've got 3 guys who are used to pitching well over anything that any of the braves top 3 guys have done. Minor (179), Medlen (148), and Teheran (149) are all approaching their past highs (or just surpassed) in IP. Nolasco, Greinke, and Kershaw all average of 200 IP/year. That's the experience I think he's referring to.

 

[msstate7]

they've got 3 guys who are used to pitching well over anything that any of the braves top 3 guys have done. Minor (179), Medlen (148), and Teheran (149) are all approaching their past highs (or just surpassed) in IP. Nolasco, Greinke, and Kershaw all average of 200 IP/year. That's the experience I think he's referring to.

No argument then. I will say that when maholm comes back that it should rest all the starters since they'll most likely go to 6-man rotation. When it comes to the postseason, I'm much more concerned about the offense of the braves than the pitching. Anyway guess we'll all have to wait to be sure

 

[shoeless joe]

Why? Just because it has happened in the past?

This staff is as talented top to bottom as they've had in a long long time. Beachy has ace stuff, as does Teheran and medlen. The one Guy who hasn't pitched to a high level lately is minor but he's been the most consistent all season. And I don't buy the lack of experience argument. Think about all the inexperienced pitchers that beat the braves all those years in the playoffs.

Offense has been streaky but this new line up has taken advantage of the strengths of the team. Add the fact that defense for these guys is absolutely top notch and the best pen in the league.

They may bow out early but I'd like to know why that is the thought. Dodgers/braves NLCS could be fantastic.

 

[WeWonItAll(Most)]

The Braves will fizzle. You got to look out for the Tigers and the Red Sox, steadily good all year.

 

[msstate7]

The Braves will fizzle. You got to look out for the Tigers and the Red Sox, steadily good all year.

Meanwhile the team that will "fizzle" has a better record than either. In fact, the braves have the best record in mlb. I'd say they've been "steadily good all year " too