Yet another dispiriting loss, as our Braves lost 4-3 in ten innings to the Cubbies in Chicago.  Most alarmingly, they went 0-14 with runners in scoring position.  After scoring three runs though four innings, the bats went very quiet once again.  Acuna, Albies, Olson, and d’Arnaud were a combined 0-17.  Charlie Morton walked four and hit another batter, needing 94 pitches to get through five innings.  The Braves allowed one run on a passed ball and a dropped pop-up led to another run.  The Cubs scored the winning run in the 10th, as a weak ground ball advanced the Manfred Man to third, and a high chopper over the pitcher’s head became one of the weakest walkoffs you’ll ever see.  The Braves had failed to score in the top of the inning when our own Zombie runner, the Big Bear, ran into an unnecessary out at third base, although to be fair no one would have driven him in anyway.

It wasn’t all bad.  Charlie righted the ship after throwing over 50 pitches in the first two innings: his final line shows just four hits, with two runs, only one of which was earned. The pen did a creditable job, allowing just two unearned runs after Morton left. Despite the defensive miscues, there were some great defensive plays in the outfield, two by MHII and one by RAJ.  The Braves hit two home runs, by Arcia and Harris. Ozuna kept his hit streak alive, and Kelenic hit a ringing opposite field double.

Still, the obvious problem is the offense.  In the last 19 games, they have averaged 3.0 runs per game. They’ve scored more than five runs once in the past 21 games. Over the past 30 days, this team is 26th in team OPS.

What’s going on?  Marvin Gaye released his classic album What’s Going On on May 21, 1971.  The title track, with its poignant question repeated throughout the song, has been going through my head lately.  (It’s a great song, so if you’re going to have an ear worm, you could do a lot worse.)

What is going on with the Braves’ offense?

Here are some theories I’ve seen here and elsewhere on the interwebs: They re trying too hard—they’re pressing.  They aren’t trying hard enough—they’re too lackadaisical. They swing at too many pitches out of the zone.  They’re watching too many fat pitches go by with their bats on their shoulders.  They’re swinging for the fences on every pitch. They’re too tentative at the plate; they need to relax and let it rip.  They lack fire. They’re disinterested. They’re depressed.

I have no idea whether there is truth to any of these diagnoses (although I’m pretty sure at least some of them are wrong).  What I do know if that the team is frustrating to watch right now.  I’m also confident, though, that the bats will come around.  RAJ, Ozzie, Olson, Riley, and Harris will finish with higher OPS’s than they are sporting now.  The offensive explosion is coming.  Of course, I’ve been saying that for weeks now.  But one of these weeks I’ll be right. Right? Right?

The next couple of weeks would be a good time for that offensive turnaround to make its appearance.  After Fried goes this evening, the Braves have no one available to start the two games after that.  It will probably be some combination of Darius Vines and someone else called up from Gwinnett.  On the bright side, the Braves play no team that is remotely good for the next three weeks, so let’s crank it up. 

And as bad as the offense has been, the starting pitchers (other than the fifth spot) have been excellent.  And the bullpen continues to be solid, with the occasional hiccup.  Get back to scoring five runs a game instead of three, and this team may yet be the best in baseball.  Just need to figure out what’s going on with the offense.  If you do discern what’s going on, I’m sure Snit and Seitzer would love to hear from you.