There's only one plausible explanation: in order to conserve jet fuel, the Braves left all that momentum that they rolled up on an 8-3 home stand and left it at Turner Field. How else does one explain a series loss to Milwaukee that included a stretch of 18 scoreless innings?
But maybe it's not that bad. Look at the all-star cast of pitchers that were out there for the Brewers. Sure, I believe any offense could get shutout for two games worth of innings when 16 of those scoreless innings were pitched by the combination of Dave Bush, Salomon Torres, Jeff Suppan, and Julian Tavarez... And after watching the NBA on TNT, I also believe that the combination of The Bill Engvall Show and House of Payne make up the funniest night on television. (Now that's funny!)
Along with many other Braves fans, I really thought that they would finally carry their momentum (and their offense) on the road with them, but it's obvious we were all wrong. I don't know at what point trend becomes plague, but I do know that there's no time like the present to start a new trend and win a road series this weekend in Cincy.
I'm not going to break down every series the Braves play the rest of the year, but I will certainly break down the big ones, and I think every road series is big for the Braves, at least until they win one...
Game 1
Tom Glavine (2-2, 4.76 ERA) vs. Edinson Volquez (7-2, 1.31)
Easily the most losable game in the series for the Braves. However, if they do win this game, it could turn out to be the difference between a rather unimpressive series win against a last place team, and the HUGE boost of a sweep and a winning road trip. Don't forget that the Braves have been giant killers when it comes to star pitchers this season. Atlanta is 4-0 in 2008 against Volquez, Johan Santana, and Brandon Webb...Of course the Braves pitchers in those four games have been Smoltzie, Jurrjens, and Hudson (twice); not Tom Glavine.
Game 2
Jair Jurrjens (5-3, 2.86) vs. Josh Fogg (1-2, 9.00)
Game 2 is easily the most important game of the series. If the Braves win game one, they cannot afford to have a major let down in their most favorable pitching matchup of the weekend. If the braves lose game one, this will be as close to a must win in a non-division game as you'll ever see on the first day of June.
Game 3
Tim Hudson (7-3, 2.90) vs. Johnny Cueto (2-5, 5.56)
If you're betting on just one Braves win, this game is the one that will most likely do it for you. Hudson has stepped up and become the Braves ace exactly as he was needed to with the Smoltz injury. I don't see any scenario where Hudson lets down in this game. Maybe the offense could sputter again, but that's the only way the Braves don't win on Sunday, and if they can push more than two runs across, "Huddy" will do the rest.
Well, now I got the first one out. Since I didn't do it at the beginning, I'll take the opportunity now to say hello to those reading as well as to my fellow bloggers. The key to a fun blog from the writer's perspective is readers that are involved and enjoy exchanging witty banter... or at least some kind of banter. I look forward to discussing all things Braves (and NL East) throughout the rest of the season.
Friday, May 30, 2008
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1 comments:
Welcome to blogdom, J-Rod. Good stuff. I am watching the first game against the Reds now and it seems that the Braves have still not been able to put up runs at the clip that they were able to at home. They still have a chance to win, but the pen will need to hold on for one more inning so we can send this one into extra frames. I am glad that they at least have a chance at winning this most "un-winnable" game of this series. Looking forward to more good posts from you, J-Rod.
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