SportsNation Blog Archives
Atlanta Braves
Are the Braves about to get their own Washington bailout in the wild-card race?
As recently as last week, the NL wild card was a done deal in SportsNation's eyes -- 59 percent of voters said the Rockies were headed to the postseason. And now ... well, actually the Rockies remain the overwhelming popular pick to win the wild card. But after loss No. 8 in the their last 12 games, the wild-card lead is down to 3.5 games over the Braves. And guess who the Braves play seven times in the season's final stretch?
Your 100-loss Washington Nationals!
Meanwhile, the Rockies play both the Cardinals and Dodgers down the stretch. And far be it from us to suggest those teams would think of such things, but since one might end up facing the wild card, what's really in their best interests?
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“best case scenario the Braves are only .5 games behind the Rockies after the weekend.
” -- sneller01
“The Rockies can't defeat the AAAA Padres... AGAIN! Hilarious! Rockies are a joke! Good thing they aren't in the AL because they would have NO CHANCE in making the playoffs.
” -- Friars_Win
The start of school doesn't mean the collapse of fun, regardless of the high jinks posted by Yohnkers. Football fans are trickling back into the profiles, and people are sharing pictures of their summer games and vacations.
Here are our favorite fan photos uploaded this week. Click on the images to view a larger version of the pictures and to comment. If you have a great picture or saw one you think the world should see, leave a brief description and a link in the Conversation section below.
So has anyone seen our divisional races in baseball? We seem to have misplaced them; we swear they here a minute ago. Aside from the AL Central, which is shaping up as less of a sprint and more of a stumble to the finish line, the new week begins with every division leader in possession of at least a 4.5 game cushion. A month ago, only two teams could claim that honor. And a year ago, two races were within a game on Aug. 17.
We can only assume it's the Tigers people have in mind when more than 70 percent of SportsNation predicts at least one current division leader will fall because the rest of the landscape looks about as eye-catching as a Kansas highway in the middle of an overcast night (in other words, dull). Thank goodness for the wild card.
At the outset of a three-game series between the Rangers and Red Sox in Texas, voters predicted the Red Sox would lead the wild-card race after the weekend. Oops. But never a body to be deterred, SportsNation still thinks the Red Sox will end up in the playoffs.
- Rockies lead NL wild-card race; SportsNation still prefers Giants.
- Vote: Add your take to the hot issues of the day in MLB.
- Groups: Top of the Chop | Texas Rangers | PHILADELPHIA SPORTS
“The Rangers are getting healthier, Kinsler's time off looked like a well needed rest. Hamilton's coming back around. Pitching looks good for them. And there's no way the Angels can keep up the pace they're on. Or can they? I love the fact that the Rangers are still relevant in mid August. Things look good for them.
” -- xlxcrowxlx
“the rockies whole team is overated, them playing at coors inflates all their stats tulowitzki cant clean hanleys shoes and helton is good cause hes in coors and there gonna fall apart in the end while we stay hot and by the way this was the worst officiated game in the history of baseball, the rocks stole this one from us
” -- jgoodman222
Hey, remember the Phillies? Reigning World Series champs? Leading the NL East? Made a blockbuster move at the trade deadline to acquire Cliff Lee and added a possible future Hall of Famer in Pedro Martinez? It seems like just yesterday the Phillies were in the national spotlight. All right, in point of fact, it was yesterday they were in the national spotlight. But given the new quarterback signing on with the town's football team, the Phillies are suddenly the younger sibling in the old home of Brotherly Love. But they also face matchups this weekend that are of far more consequence than anything the Eagles will face for almost another month.
It's not exactly a schedule loaded with gems, but the weekend does offer three noteworthy showdowns with the Phillies visiting the Braves, the Red Sox visiting the Rangers, and the Rockies visiting the Marlins.
SportsNation has been consistent in saying the Phillies aren't in danger in the NL East, but a sweep for the Braves would pull Bobby Cox's team within two games. Meanwhile, the Marlins could make up ground in two races if they handle the wild-card front-runner.
The Red Sox have enjoyed SportsNation's support for the AL wild card, if not so much the AL East, but they will cede their playoff position for now without a pair of wins on the road.
- Phillies and Red Sox at Nos. 4 and 5, respectively, in SportsNation's Power Rankings.
- SportsNation divided when it comes to which weekend series is biggest.
- And voters aren't much more decisive when it comes to Rangers or Red Sox in Texas.
- Chats: Jayson Stark at 1 p.m. ET | Keith Law at 2 p.m. ET
- Groups: Top of the Chop | Texas Rangers | PHILADELPHIA SPORTS
“Swept last time we visited Arlington ... 1-5 versus the Rangers this season ... last time we play them (during the regular season anyway) ... tied with them in the loss column for the WC ... add it all up and it points to a significant, though I wouldn't say critical, series. Interesting how the pitching match-ups are relatively equal for all 3 games ... no Beckett-Minor mismatches like Wednesday vs Detroit. Tonight is clearly the marquee matchup of the series.
” -- Momandapplepie
“This is pretty much another series where I don't have the slightest clue what will happen. Any outcome wouldn't surprise me. The Braves have owned the Phillies thus far so a sweep by the Braves could happen. The Phillies have such a dangerous lineup and just swept the Cubs, so a the Phillies could easily sweep and any other split is obviously a strong possibility. But if the Braves hope to have a chance at winning the division, they need to take all 3 and get to within 2 games.
” -- da_suit
We're poised on the precipice of the second half, caught between the cold reality of the first half of the season and the limitless potential of the second half. We're ... bored. Seriously, the Triple-A All-Star Game is all we get today? Couldn't the Nationals and Pirates play at least? It's not like their rosters are exactly swamped with All-Star Game obligations.
A practice round from the British Open? A midweek NASCAR race? Give us something.
It's the slowest day in sports, but that does give us the chance to look back and look ahead. We've been surveying SportsNation for the best each team had to offer before the break. Some of these votes are closer than the Minnesota Senate race, but the leaders as of Wednesday morning are as follows:
National League Team MVP
Dodgers: Andre Ethier
Phillies: Raul Ibanez
Giants: Tim Lincecum
Cardinals: Yadier Molina (non-Pujols)
Rockies: Brad Hawpe
Brewers: Prince Fielder
Marlins: Hanley Ramirez
Astros: Miguel Tejada
Cubs: Derrek Lee
Braves: Brian McCann
Reds: Brandon Phillips
Mets: David Wright
Pirates: Freddy Sanchez
Diamondbacks: Dan Haren
Padres: Adrian Gonzalez
Nationals: Ryan Zimmerman
Frustrated that the Mets traded away a clutch chemistry guy like Ryan Church for the enigma that remains Jeff Francoeur -- whose swing made him the best football player the Braves employed since Brian Jordan -- SportsNation blogger BirishB says the trade effectively sums up a year of things going wrong in New York.
We think that's selling it short; it pretty well sums up the entire NL East.
Only in the NL East could a team with a losing record at home and some of the worst pitching numbers in baseball find itself in control of the race. And only in the NL East could a pair of Braves pitchers who reached the break ranked in the top 10 in ERA have a combined 13-14 record.
But through it all, the Phillies have maintained SportsNation's support. On June 22, the team woke up having lost six in a row and with a scant 1.5-game lead on the Mets but still held a commanding lead among voters.
- If the Rays switched leagues, they would edge the Phillies in the NL East.
- SportsNation still confident Nationals will sign Stephen Strasburg.
- Which of the Phillies' All-Stars is team MVP? Vote on the NL East.
- More midseason reviews: AL East | AL Central | AL West | NL West | NL Central
- Groups: Florida Marlins Rock | Top of the Chop | Die Hard Phillies Phans
“im a braves fan that loved frenchy but this was a great trade for the braves. no one in the braves system could get his swing worked out and he was turning into andruw jones with less power. to bring in a good quality bat and teammate such as church is a great trade. now we just need to find a power bat to stick in the middle of the lineup
” -- nrbradley
“I think people have a hard time staying marlin fans because you can't get attached to players. Everytime we have a solid group of guys, or some great young prospects we get rid of them. It's hard to watch a team, when the players you like keep leaving....just my opinion.
” -- mblally
“The NY Mets have an excuse for having poor years the last 3 years. Especially this year has been the worst because of countless injuries to their Top Players. Not like the NY Yankees and Other top teams whose Top Players are perfectly healthy and should be way ahead of the Dodgers as the best team in MLB. But they are not because they are a bunch of spoiled brat punk era generation of overpaid players no thanks to what Curt Flood and Donald Fehr started.
” -- ontario925
“Last year getting inning eater Blanton worked for the Phils instead of getting Sabathia or Harden. They're trying to do it again this year. Get a less expensive, worse pitcher who will give you innings. The Phils won't try to get Halladay with or without possibly getting Pedro. This year is different. While the NL is terrible this year the Phils need better pitching to get past the Dodgers.
” -- eaglesandceltics
“Acta is just the scapegoat. The manager is always the one who gets thrown under the bus. Either way, that roster is capable of winning more games than they have, but nowhere near playoff contenders. I don't care if you resurrect Connie Mack, no one would have led the Nationals to anything more than a 90 loss season.
” -- tybae40
As the saying goes, the more things change, the more the Cubs struggle to find .500. At least, that's how we learned it. And by "we," we mean anyone born since 1909.
With the baseball season pausing for its official midpoint at the All-Star Game and its less official one in the firing of the Nationals manager, consider how SportsNation sized up the field after the first week of the season.
1. Florida Marlins
2. St. Louis Cardinals
3. Chicago Cubs
4. Atlanta Braves
5. Toronto Blue Jays
At least the Nationals were properly slotted at No. 30. Congrats on getting that gig, Jim Riggleman. Now the Cubs, Marlins and Braves are fighting for wild-card relevancy, hoping a division leader stumbles, and the Blue Jays are listening to offers for Roy Halladay.
- A Mariners fan, blogger Dawgman0387 gets a little excited about the team's winning record at the break and starts throwing out terms like "World Series run." But hey, with a top three like Felix Hernandez, Erik Bedard and Jarrod Washburn, maybe he's on to something.
- Things aren't quite as rosy for the Reds. SportsNation blogger xubugg pleads for more "patients" at the plate. We're guessing that's supposed to be "patience," but when it comes to Dusty Baker's lineup experiments, you never know.
- We're all a little worse off having an All-Star Game without "Kung Fu Panda," but a Giants blogger upset that the so-nicknamed Pablo Sandoval won't be in St. Louis takes out his frutrations on the frauds that he feels are the Philadelphia Phillies.
“Love the Mariners, Wakamatsu, Fedex, Ichiro, Branyan, Griffey Jr., Aardsma, Branyan, "Gutierez", and everyone who has helped turn this year's team into an entertaining winning club.
” -- J.Bertelli
“[Jim Tracy] took the Rockies from double-digit games under .500 to Wild Card contenders. Not to mention the fact that the Rockies have the best record in baseball over the span that Tracy has been manager. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, expected the Rockies to be in the position they are now. Thus, Tracy definitely deserves to be National League Manager Of The Year, so far, and it's not really that close.
” -- JTRMS45
He's been here for years!
Let's face it: you all thought Andruw Jones was done. When we asked you last year, you didn't want him on your team. You thought he would never again help the Braves. Barely any of you figured he'd be a productive regular. Really, who could blame you? Jones was always a flawed hitter (he had a huge amount of power but never hit for a high average or got on base all that much), but you could usually count on him to be in the upper echelon of center fielders ... at least until 2007. That year, Jones put up a .222/.311/.413 (batting average/on-base percentage/slugging percentage) line in which his only measurable skill was hitting home runs. It got worse in 2008, as Jones managed only a .505 OPS with three home runs. He was only 31, but it looked to the world like he was done. Now? Jones is putting up a line that rivals his best year. The Rangers were understandably wary given his struggles, but he has become a more and more integral part of the year as the season goes on. Last night's three-homer performance could be a sign of even better things to come. In fact, you're now convinced that he'll reach at least 400 home runs in his career.- Groups: Rangers Group | Braves Nation | Dodgers Fan Club | National League
- Blog: Fans discuss the competitive AL West
“Andruw's playin' like it's 1996 all over again.
” -- joba_rules
“As a Dodger fan I am happy Andruw Jones is doing well. I do believe he was hurt when he was with the Dodgers
” -- giants-hater
We salute NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for summiting Mount Rainier, although running a league that includes the Bengals does give him at least a little experience with things that tend to erupt and leave a swath of destruction in their wake. But as the MLB All-Star Game approaches, Goodell's trip takes second place to the high-altitude exploits of Rockies pitcher Jason Marquis.
Passing the still-frozen bodies of Mike Hampton and Denny Neagle (proverbially speaking, of course) on his way to the summit, Marquis is a legitimate Cy Young contender with 11 wins. We get that the humidor makes Coors Field slightly less ominous than the setting for the next "Saw" for pitchers these days, but there's still not exactly a line forming to go face batters a mile above sea level.
- Continuing the self-proclaimed third annual "Half-way Awards," blogger whitstatman hands out hardware in the NL, where a familiar (baby) face loses out to a teammate in the Cy Young race and the Mets ... stink.
- SN midseason awards: Rank AL MVP contenders | Rank AL Cy Young contenders
- Groups: ROCKIES ROCK!! | The Arizona Diamondbacks | National league
“Vazquez is, and has been, an over-rated bum his whole career. Can't win with run support, can't win without it. There's a reason why his career numbers hover around .500, and its nothing to do with the rest of any team he's been on.
” -- JeffSigmaChi
“Start Tim Lincecum for the NL. The man is a serious freak of nature and an amazing picture. Just ask the last 3 teams he has pitched against.
” -- jaws2355
When it comes to All-Star selections, Keith Law thinks fans failed like a 24-year-old in Rookie Ball with poor plate discipline (too early on a Monday for sabermetric humor?). Then again, SportsNation's occasionally cantankerous guru thinks managers and players didn't fare much better in picking the reserves and pitchers. But until Law is established as baseball's supreme overlord, we're stuck with the current system.
There are 23 first-time All-Stars this year, including Yadier Molina, the first of the Molina brothers to make an appearance (leaving them just 18 Grand Slam titles and two Super Bowl titles shy of the Williams sisters and Manning brothers). The rookies also run the gamut, from 42-year-old Tim Wakefield to 21-year-old Justin Upton, who was born the year before Wakefield was drafted by the Pirates.
And if that doesn't make you feel old, consider that Tim Wakefield debuted for the Pirates in 1992 on a team that also included pitcher Dennis Lamp, who was born six years before Kevin Bacon.
- SportsNation can't pick if it should be allowed to pick the All-Star starters
- No surprise that AL is the overwhelming early All-Star Game favorite
“pedroia is a great player but based on how he has played this season, he doesn't deserve to start in the all-star game. aaron hill should be starting and kinsler should be the reserve. josh hamilton shouldn't be up there either. adam lind has played phenomenal this season and should at least be a reserve in the outfield. i also think that jered weaver should be there over wakefield. i mean wake is up there in wins, but only because he the sox give him great run support. just look at his numbers, he's pitched mediocre this season.
” -- bkzwhitestrican
“It's an All-Star game, not a best first half stats game. The fans want to see Jeter becase he's the most famous shortstop and a sure Hall of Famer. Fine. They want to see Pedroia because he's the MVP, you silly people. What's wrong with that? They voted for Hamilton because he was THE story of last year's game. Makes sense. The game is for the fans, and they want to see who they want to see. You Fantasy guys just go play your imaginary All-Star game with your make-believe players...
” -- Captaincompliance
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No. 1 Drew Brees
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