If the Braves lose next series vs. the Phillies, is that it?

Question

I am a lifelong Braves fan, and so obviously this season has been extremely disappointing for me. In all honesty, it's the most disappointing season I've ever witnessed. We had a World Series caliber team going into the year. Then we were inconsistent, got pummeled by injuries, and got extremely unlucky as well. Our team ERA is still 2nd in the NL, even with 3/5 of our initial rotation injured. Then Hudson got injured last night (hopefully not for long), so that leaves us with only Jurrjens fully capable right now. We had 1 kid in his second year and three rookies in our pitching staff after Hudson. Chipper started out doing well, but he's only hitting .369 now. We've gone through a whole lot of garbage this year.

Despite all of that, we are only 6 games back in the division. However, if the Phillies beat us in this next series, do you guys think that the season is done? Most think that we will be sellers if that happens and trade Ohman, Tex, and maybe even Francoeur. What do u think?

Answer 1

The cold hard truth resides in the numbers.  Right now the Braves are in 4th place in their division at 48-53.  One, or more, of the three teams ahead of them is going to finish strong and I see 90 games winning the NL east.  For the Braves to win the division they would have to go 43-18 and they just don't have the ability to do that.  Since the wild card will probably come from the NL central I have to believe the Braves are done now.

Answer 2

I am sorry for how you feel. I an a white sox fan so I know how it feels to go a long time without a ring.  Your pitching staff has held together considerably well considering all the injuries. One key loss was Francour, who I expected to be an all star at the beginning of the season but didn't happen.  Francour will not get traded but Textera will.  They will not win the division (sorry) but Philadelphia, Florida, and New York are going to have a battle without the Braves.  Mabe if there is a lot of key hitting injuries in the east, you MAY have a chance.

Answer 3

No you will not be done it will just be a little bit more tuff to come back with all the injuries and stuff. Remember it ain't over till it's over. Also teams in that division will play each other a bunch of times so they will tend to knock each other off toward the end of the season. Anythings possible! Remember last year with the Mets blowing their lead to Philidelphia?

Answer 4

i don't know that it's over if they lose the series to the phils, but it's already tough enough as it is...they don't have enough guys hitting consistently in that lineup to support the pitching staff, and with all the injuries they have in that rotation it's hard to believe that they will sustain that team era where it is, even though their young guys like jurrjens and jorge campillo have been very good

i don't know that they will totally sell off if they lose that phillies series, but i think they have to look at possibly trading teixiera no matter what because they will not be able to keep him after this season

Answer 5

The Braves are in a difficult position right now in the NL East. They're division rivals are difficult to compete against, all except the Washington Nationals. Even the Florida Marlins are in the competition for the division. I think the team had an excellent line-up this year, but they're not delivering as they should. As you said, the Braves have been inconsistent. Whenever the Braves get hot, everybody in the team gets hot. Same case when they're not. Unfortunately, they've been more not than hot this year. I still believe the Braves can make it to the playoffs, but first, the competing teams will have to cool down. The Phillies and the Marlins are the top home run hitting teams and the Mets have recently gone red hot. The Nationals have no chance this year just like the past few years. The only team that can compete with the Braves pitching is the Phillies, but they're starters are failing them. As you know, Chipper hasn't been delivering for a while. I guarantee you, he will get hot again, perhaps end up hitting .400. I've looked at the Braves schedule, and I can tell you, it's not good. The Braves will have to not only try to beat out the Phillies if they want to compete in the East, but also the Mets and out of nowhere, the Cubs and the Brewers the rest of the season. I'm sorry, but I don't think the Braves have a chance.

Answer 6

You did not say ONLY .369!? Wow. you've got some high expectations;)

The problem isn't the fact that the Braves are 6 games out... it is because they have to jump over 3 teams to get there. I don't see Florida, Phillies and New York all play like c**p over the next 2 months. I totally agree with you. I had picked the Braves to go to the WS. I am a big Cards fan, but I love the Braves as well. No one expected this.... but Smoltz and Glavine are old. Chipper has been amazing, but Tex didn't show up until like a week ago. Francoeur seems to be having an identity crisis. The bullpen is a mess. I don't know... I almost think it already is over.

They basically have to sweep the Mets, Phillies and Marlins for the rest of the season and hope for a miracle. I almost already think it is done. But if they get swept by the Phillies this week...they will be sellers. Tex will be gone.

I heard about a trade to Pitt a couple weeks ago that sounded ridiculous. Jurjens and Francoeur for Jason Bay and a couple pitching projects... but that is more of a buying thing. I haven't heard anything else.

Answer 7

This is the big series this year...Last year it was a series with the mets, which got swept in. We need to win, and we need to win now...  Unfortunatly I don't see it happening, I don't even think we could win this series. Chipper looks like he hurt his hamstring bad, and you know our record without Chipper...It's horriable. This was suppose to be the year, but injury has over taken us (I know u know that). I'm still going to go to the games, and cheer for the Braves but if we lose this series I think were sellers... I don't want to sell anybody honestly. It looks like Tex is probably going to go. don't think Francoeur is going, and Frank Wren is not stupid, he won't trade Jurjeans...

Answer 8

I feel ya im a tigers fan and this season has been pretty sh**y and in comparison braves and tigers both have HUGE make or break series coming up.....braves and phillies- Tigers and White Sox.....And as a braves fan like you are I would pray they dont trade tex becuase that would just kill chipper jones he even admitted on Jim Rome show that he loves having him hit behind him.  Braves have gone through a lot of stuff as you said but i think if they can hopefully win 2 or 3 games i think they can stay in it....honestly i hate the mets and not a big phillies fan so hopefully they can pull it off....if they get to the playoffs b cox manager of the year lol.....same for leyland and the tigers.....tough roads coming ahead though so we'll see