Hey, Braves– meet me at Camera 3.
(Image: Mark Serota/Getty Images)
Baseball’s a tough game. We can all agree on that right now. Playing consistently good baseball over the course of 162 games is a task that no team without a $65 million dollar starting rotation* (ahem) is up for. It’s a long grind, and there are going to be ups and downs.
But this is really, really down. A month ago, we all rested easy. I told many people that it would take a collapse of epic proportions for you guys to miss the playoffs. Well, that epic collapse has come and gone. The deed is done, and now, face it– you’ve entered into a best of 7 playoffs series with the St. Louis Cardinals.
You’re 1 game up, so we can say that you won Game 1. That’s a positive way to spin “you’ve crapped away a 9.5 game lead down to 1” (technically it’s a 1.5 game lead, but is anyone really expecting St. Louis to lose to the Mets this afternoon?). Let’s take a look at Games 2-7.
First off, consider this: the Cardinals finish with the Cubs and the Astros. The Cubs and the Astros. The schedule-makers essentially handed St. Louis four automatic wins to finish the season. If they win all six, you won’t find an iota of surprise here. Therefore, to be safe, you need to finish at least 5-1. 4-2 may cut it, but that’s risky.
So here’s your slate:
Starting Friday: three games in Washington. The Nationals! Relief at last? Nope. You’re 8-7 this season against the bottom-dwelling Nats, and that’s probably the best effort you’ve given since they (mercifully) closed Olympic Stadium (specifically, 32-37 since 2008). Oh, and by the way, the Nationals just drilled the Phillies. They may be the hottest team in baseball, aside from–who else– the Cardinals. And they have Stephen Strasburg on the hill Friday night. You’ve heard of him, right?
If you manage to win the Nationals series– and let’s face it, a “win” there is a sweep– you come home to see the Phillies. Now, I know what you’re thinking– “The Phillies have nothing to play for. They will just be resting for the playoffs.” How soon we forget. I shouldn’t have to remind you that, this time last year, you came home to Atlanta to finish with three games with the resting Phils, needing just one measly win to clinch a playoff spot, which you did– after getting pummeled twice and then hanging on for dear life with a one-run victory to close it out. The moral? No matter who Philadelphia throws out there, assume those men want to grind all of your hopes and dreams into a fine powder.
I’m not optimistic, guys. If there was ever a time for some Braves comeback magic (which has been disappointingly MIA this year), it is now. McCann– it’s time to start hitting that blurry white object people keep throwing in your direction. Beachy, Minor, Delgado, and any other prepubescent starter we throw out there– it’s time to start pitching past the 5th inning. I know that’s a lot to ask, but the bullpen is insistent upon it. They’re pretty tired. Chipper– If the lights are in your eyes, it’s time to Bono it up with some nighttime shades.
But most of all, it’s time to put to death the pessimism that has dominated Atlanta Braves baseball for the better part of twenty years. It’s crunch time, and your fans aren’t hopeful. Need proof? Check out the AJC’s current sports poll:
Prove us wrong this time.
*Referring specifically to the Phillies, who have spent nearly as much on their starting five as the Braves spend on their entire team.
