The Atlanta Braves are Struggling

By: Daniel Lumpkin

June 8, 2011

Is there anything to brag about concerning the Braves? With several injuries and the offense continuing to struggle, the Atlanta Braves are having a difficult time supporting their strong and consistent pitching. But the arms cannot be the only thing the Braves rely on to get into the postseason.

What do the Braves need to do to get on track?

Primarily, Dan Uggla needs to find a groove. Right now it doesn’t really matter what groove, I would take anything at this point. Last year he was nearly one hundred points higher in batting average and his numbers in homeruns and RBIs were double what they are now.

It will also help when Jason Heyward gets healthy. Nate McClouth will be coming back too but Jordan Schafer has showing why he was such a highly touted prospect a few years ago. The young center fielder is a natural leadoff hitter and the Braves haven’t had that kind of speed at the top of the order since Rafael Furcal.

Now some may argue that the Atlanta Braves are doing really well considering their injuries and offensive woes. I would agree to an extent but a point must be made. If the Braves are doing this well (2^nd place in the east and only three games behind the Phillies*) with all their troubles, imagine where the Braves would be if they were healthy and hitting the ball.

*Standings after June 7, 2011

Braves Phillies Rotation Breakdown

By: Daniel Lumpkin
Here is a look at how the Atlanta Braves starting rotation has measured up to the Philadelphia Phillies rotation so far. In case you have not heard, the Phillies were busy moving and shaking this offseason in order to create arguably the best starting rotation ever compiled. Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and Joe Blanton were projected to be the most dangerous starters on one team and the expectations on these five men were very high. Expectations included…

1.) Winning 100 games. (That one should be pretty easy for these guys, right?)

2.) Team leads entire league in every pitching category. (Again, easy)

3.) Someone throws a perfect game. (Not easy, but still expected)

4.) Winning 200 games. (Highly impossible… but the season isn’t over)

5.) All five starters win the Cy Young Award. (Again, impossible)

6.) They cure cancer. (His nickname is ‘Doc’ for a reason)

7.) Every game they throw will be a perfect game and no team will even be able to compete.

Clearly some of these were exaggerations. But throughout the offseason and spring training, I got really tired of hearing how perfect these guys were going to be. Everybody thought the Phillies won the NL East before the season even started. Can any other team compete? Maybe Boston or the Yankees, no one in the same division though. The Atlanta Braves starting rotation flew under everyone’s radar as one of the best in the game. Here is a breakdown of pitching statistics for the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies.

WINS

Phillies – Tied for 1^st – 25

Braves – Tied for 2nd - 24

LOSSES

Phillies – 2^nd lowest – 15

Braves – Tied for 5^th lowest – 19

ERA

Phillies – 3^rd – 3.13

Braves – 2^nd – 2.94

SHUTOUTS

Phillies – Tied for 1^st – 6

Braves – Tied for 1^st – 6

HITS

Phillies – 6^th lowest – 319

Braves – 2^nd lowest – 311

HOME RUNS ALLOWED

Phillies – Tied for 4^th – 25

Braves – Tied for 4^th – 25

BASES ON BALLS

Phillies – 1^st – 111

Braves – 3^rd – 114

STRIKE OUTS

Phillies – 2^nd – 332

Braves – 1^st – 343

A simple tally score shows that the Phillies beat the Braves in three categories (Wins, Losses and Base on Balls) but the Braves beat the Phillies in three categories (ERA, Hits and Strike Outs) and both teams are tied in two categories (Shutouts and Home Runs Allowed).

Now, first impressions say that the Phillies have the better staff. They have more wins, fewer losses, and walk the opposition less. The first two statistics speak more about an overall team rather than a pitching staff though. The Phillies have a better batting (.252 – Tied for 11^th in the league) compared to the Braves (.244 – 14^th in the league). This results in the Phillies being in first place right now simply because Atlanta’s bats are just now heating up in the 7^th week of the season.

The Braves are leading in the three categories that really speak about pitching performance. Teams are having more trouble scoring runs and getting hits on Atlanta compared to Philadelphia (and the rest of the league, really).

If the Atlanta Braves can keep their staff healthy and be more consistent hitters, they will be the best team in the NL East. Their numbers right now prove that they have the best starting rotation in baseball.

* All stats compiled on May 17, 2011

BLOWN CALL FOR THE WIN

by Michael "DTA" Leder

Braves and Giants was a classic example of how one minor blown call can ruin a game; possibly the entire playoff picture. The fourth inning stolen base by the Giants Buster Posey setup the Giants for an unjust win, and this is why Major Leauge Baseball needs to use instant replay consistently.

I personally witnessed the walkoff homerun by Brian McCann weeks before that was later reviewed by umpires and became the first game in the history of baseball to be ended by a reviwed call.

Why this hasn't been in use before is stupid, it doesn't take away anything from the game except an umpires pride, which should be irrelevant. The instant replay clearly showed that Buster got busted stealing second, yet he win on to score the only run of the match! Major Leauge Baseball should not be comfortable letting this happen, especially in a Division Leauge Series. The pitching matchup was incredible and it is a discrace to the game of baseball that professionals don't ensure the correct calls are made.

Hopefully, one day, the majors will get up to speed with the rest of the world and utilize the technology that has been available. Without the blown call by umpire PAUL EMMEL the game would have certainly gone into extra innings. The Braves look to get back at the Giants tonight with Tommy Hanson pitching against Matt Cain. Bobby is going to need to reconsider his lineup.

PENNANT RACE "MATCHED"

by Michael "DTA" Leder

ATLANTA,GA

The result of last night’s games in the National League East seemed comically predictable. The Braves and Phillies ended their respective games yet again in the same result. Both ball clubs have gone through some dramatic changes in their rosters over the month of August due to trades and especially injuries. Each team has had several key players filling and emptying the disabled list. The Braves lost Prado for a while, Phillies lost Utley and Rollins for a while; Braves lost Chipper for the rest of the season but gained Derek Lee for the rest of the season and so on and so on. Even with all the inconsistencies regarding their players, one thing has been consistent; the Phillies are two and a-half games behind.
Ever since the playoff picture started to form a few weeks after the All-Star break the Phillies have been in a constant uphill battle in their chase for the top spot that the Braves have been ever so persistent to give up. In the past two weeks it now seems as though the two teams have become equally matched. The past 9 games straight the Phillies and the Braves have continually won or lost together. The entire month of August both teams have won or lost together 14 times. In fact out of the 46 combined games both clubs collectively played in August both teams have won a total of 14 games each. The Braves finish off August in a long Bobby couldn’t have asked for a more exciting final Pennant race in his epic last year in the majors.