If the Atlanta Braves ever wanted to make a move on the Phillies for the top spot in the NL East now is the time. The Braves are now just 2.5 games back headed into a weekend series with the Phillies. The time to make their move is now.
The Braves are coming off a 4 game win streak having swept the Rockies in 4 games at home. The Phillies are coming off a loss in their final game against the Marlins on Wednesday. Unlike the Braves, the Phillies did have Thursday off to get some rest. For the Braves, they will go with Beachy, Hanson and Lowe on the mound against the Phillies Halladay, Lee and Hamels. Not exactly the matchups most Braves fans would have preferred to see, but that’s how it worked out. Read more... (445 words, 1 image, estimated 1:47 mins reading time)
Coming from the South, I often heard the phrase from my older relatives, “I’m down in the back.” This had the meaning of having a back problem, pain, soreness, something worse. It just meant that there was something wrong with their back. Roy Oswalt of the Phillies is once again, down in the back.
Not the first time for Oswalt and probably not the last, he is about a step away from heading to the DL once again this season for back problems. He spent time on the 15-day DL earlier in the season with low back inflammation. It has been an ongoing issue for him. The Phillies have retained their hold on the top of the NL East despite his absence and the less than stellar fill in by Kyle Kendrick, but the Braves are inching ever closer to the top spot and another DL stint for Oswalt may not be what the Phillies need right now. Read more... (566 words, 1 image, estimated 2:16 mins reading time)
The Atlanta Braves are making a move in the NL East and now find themselves only 2 games back of the Phillies. With a sweep of the Marlins, the Braves find themselves poised to attack the top of the standings.
The Braves were hanging back at 3.5 games out of 1st for a couple of weeks, but with the help of a sweep of the fish, they are even closer to the Phillies. They are 6-4 for their last 10 and have won 3 games in a row. They next get to take on the Houston Astros for the weekend, which is definitely in their favor. Read more... (340 words, 1 image, estimated 1:22 mins reading time)
Finally, the day seems to be almost upon us that Chase Utley will return to the Phillies. No one is probably happier than the Phillies themselves.
Even though the Phillies are on top of the NL East standings and have been for some time, they have lost many a game this season by as little as 1 run. Their run production has not been enough to carry them to wins even if their pitching held the other team to 1 or 2 runs in some instances. There was just no power at the plate. No spark to get the offense going. That spark as most observers know is Chase Utley. Read more... (310 words, 1 image, estimated 1:14 mins reading time)
The NL East is getting tighter by the game. The Phillies, Marlins and Braves are all within striking distance of each other and one stumble could mean a change at the top.
The Phillies continue to hold on to the top spot but by just 0.5 games over the Marlins. The Phillies have had quite the time coming off a losing series with the Braves and 4-6 for their last 10 games. They have lost to the Cardinals and have given the Marlins and Braves a foothold onto the top spot. The Marlins continue to surge with their sizzling hot pitching performances and sitting at .600 on the season. The Braves are 1.5 games out of first and are 6-4 for their last 10 having won 4 games in a row. Read more... (352 words, 1 image, estimated 1:24 mins reading time)
Over the past few weeks I have considered making a sacrifice to the baseball gods so that the Braves could win. There were times I was convinced that it was the only way they would. Maybe just wanting to make a sacrifice was enough.
The Braves finally pulled it out at the last minute and secured a post season spot. I honestly thought they wouldn’t do it. The Padres had already taken 2 games from the Giants and the Braves had looked just terrible against the Phillies. But hope springs eternal. Read more... (311 words, 1 image, estimated 1:15 mins reading time)
Yesterday, it was just a slight nudge. Today, it’s a full blown kick to the midsection and I’m in the pit of despair. The Braves are now 5 games back of the Phillies and the Padres are now only 1 game out of the wildcard race. It’s becoming very tentative now and another loss tonight by the Braves could spell certain doom.
The Braves have had opportunity after opportunity in this series with the Phillies. And time after time they have failed to capitalize. They once again committed 2 errors. Once again, the inning ending double play groundout was evident. Poor baserunning decisions. And another great pitching performance from the Phillies starter, this time Roy Halladay. All of this added up to yet another loss for the Braves. Read more... (340 words, 1 image, estimated 1:22 mins reading time)
As fingers of ice slip softly around the soul in the dark of night pushing ever closer to the edge of despair so the Braves have done to me. With each turn of an inning, the cold grew more bitter tightening it’s grip to the edge of despair. Only one game in a series of three but slowly it seeps the faith away from me.
Okay so I’m a little melodramatic. Poets often are. Last night was one of the toughest sports nights I’ve experienced in a while. The Braves vs Phillies was every hyped thing come true. A playoff atmosphere. Live or die for the Braves playoff hopes. A brand new pitcher fresh out of the minors going for the Braves. A box of Pepcid wasn’t going to cover this. Read more... (493 words, 1 image, estimated 1:58 mins reading time)
I’ve been a Braves fan for years now, most of my life in fact. I’ve been a fan when they were really, really bad and when they were really, really good. I’ve been through it all pretty much, but I’ve just about had all of this rollercoaster ride I can take.
I love baseball. I love the Braves. I don’t love how they win and lose every other night. It’s not just now and then, it’s all the time. They rarely ever put together winning streaks of longer than 2 or 3 games before they resort back to the win one lose one scenario. In a race for the post season that is so close, the Braves are now 2 games back of the Phillies and in first for the wild card, they continue to win and lose night after night after night. Read more... (424 words, 1 image, estimated 1:42 mins reading time)
I’ve always said it’s hard to be a Braves fan. Years of suffering through teams that were absolutely no good to years of suffering through teams that were very good but just couldn’t get the job done. I’m starting to feel like that’s what this team is…very good and very bad. The Braves have always been bipolar.
This morning the Braves are now 0.5 games BACK of the Phillies. For the first time since May, the team is no longer leading the division. The Braves reached the flip side by losing to the Pirates. The Pirates people. In the meantime, the Phillies have been winning against the Marlins, something the Braves are seemingly incapable of doing this month. Read more... (248 words, 1 image, estimated 1:0 mins reading time)
