Sunday, July 22, 2012

5 REASONS I DONT SEE THE BRAVES MAKING PLAYOFFS

1. This rotation is a mess- they have no chance right now of making the playoffs with the current rotation of Hanson, Hudson, Minor, Jurrjens, and Sheets. Ben Sheets has shocked me and pitched very well in his 2 starts so far.Will it continue is the biggest question Braves fans can ask. If he can then it will strengthen the chances of october baseball but if he cant then its another gaping hole in the rotation.Hanson& Hudson have been decent but not shut down. Minor & Delgado have been exactly what I thought- worthless. Jurrjens showed signs of being the old Jurrjens in June but in July he has gone back to his self since July 2011. He may well indeed have pitched his last game in a Braves uniform sunday. I do believe the braves will make a move for a starting pitcher by  the trade deadline but even with one more legit starter I still dont see this team making playoffs unless Hanson or Hudson can pitch like a top starter from here on out.

2. The offense is too inconsistant - it can score 20 runs in 3 games and then not score 10 runs in the next 4 games.The only 2 consistant hitters have been Prado & Bourn. Everyone else has been on and off. That wont get it done in Sept/ Oct. this offense has potential to be potent but it just doesnt do it often enough. You can split the MVP of the team between Bourn/ Prado but they are the only ones who have been life savers for the offense.If this team could get hott offensively then they are a team to watch out for but I dont see us ever gettoing steady support day in and day out especialy when the games will only come with more pressure the next 2 months. They beat up on teams with Bad pitching and struggle vs the good pitching. that wont bode will in the stretch run.

3.The braves have not played well at home. If you cant take care of buisness at home then you normally dont make the playoffs.Nor have they played very well vs the divison opponets. True they are 8-2 in the last 10 vs the division which closes the gap recordwise vs the divison but they are 4-8 vs the nationals this year. That wont get it done if you want to make it to october.They have been straight up outplayed vs the nats this year. After the huge come back vs the nats on friday when they came backfrom a 9-0 deficit most Braves fans expected it would take the braves off and we would reel off a big winning streak. it didnt happen. The braves lost the next 2 games after that and went to washington 3.5 games back and will leave Washington 3.5 games back so in 4 games they accomplished no gaining ground.

4. I dont think Fredi G. is the man for this job. The braves team is so talented but they just havent responded well with Fredi leading them. His lack of passion and intensity seems to be lacking big time. where is the fire in this team? He is way to laid back and it seems to carry over alot to the team. Goin back to last seasons collapse  down the stretch he had no emotion when his team was crumbling and neither did the players. A team is dictated alot by the man that leads it and in this case Fredi G isnt very good for this team. I wonder how the team would respond to someone with more fire and intensity. I just cant see the braves getting to playoffs and winning with Fredi G at the helm.

5. The bullpen hasnt been reliable. Minus Kimbrel and the good work from Medlen this bullpen hasnt done work very well. Venters has been horrible. He has been lit up time and time again. The workload for Venters and Kimbrel has been reduced this year and  Kimbrels stats has improved but Venters has gone way up. Last season the braves were carried by there elite Bullpen this year the bullpen isnt close to top form like it was to last year. They need Venters to return to form to have any chance of being that good bullpen from a year ago. Kimbrel is one of the best closers in the game and will rack up incredible strikeout numbers- but I personally feel like in the intense stakes of the playoff run in september he will crumble. He has blown some big games in his 1.5 years  so far in the bigs. Yes he has alot of saves but the ones he has blown stick out in my mind more then any of his career numbers so far. If you dont understand where Im coming from then look at his work during the 2010 playoff series vs Giants. Look at his stats from September 2011. He was abig reason why the braves folded during the stretch last year. More then anything when the braves needed him most in game #162 vs Philly he really struggled. he was walking up a storm and he gave up the tying runs in a game the Braves needed to win.  there is a big difference saving games in April thru August and then saving games in September. Yes he is young and that gives me hope- but right now hes a head scratcher to me coming down the stretch of importance for the Braves bullpen.

 I know many Braves fans will think Im crazy and think this team will make the playoffs and I respect that but personally I cant see it happening unless our rotation takes a major turn for the better, our offense becomes more consistant and the bullpen shows more of the 2011 Braves then 2012. There is still 2 months to go but  these games are growing more and more imporant and the braves rotation more then anything isnt showing any signs of carrying the Braves into the playoffs.