As I’ve indicated several times before, I tend to take an optimistic view of my team’s chances. Even when things aren’t going well, there is always the opportunity to turn it around. As JonathanF reminds us, it’s a long season.
Although there is still time to turn things around, things couldn’t have gone much worse last night for our Braves in a 10-0 loss to the Brewers. Bryce Elder was terrible; two good starts in a row from him was too much to ask. More ominously, the offense, after briefly coming to life in the last couple of weeks, has now gone 24 consecutive innings without scoring a run, tied for the third longest scoring drought in the last 35 seasons. That includes two consecutive home shutouts, after not being shut out at home for 231 games (both numbers according to DOB in the Athletic).
But always look on the bright side, as Eric Idle reminds us. Here is the headline for the Bravda recap on mlb.com for last night: “Night’s loss may be season’s gain as Braves find extra rest for arms.” We keep losing, but our best pitchers will be rested in October! There is an obvious problem with that reasoning–unless the offense turns it around, they’ll all get nothing but rest come October. It’s true that the Braves are still in line for a playoff spot, although they are now hanging on by a thread to the third wild card.
As I keep saying each week, “Surely the hitters can’t continue to suck so badly, right?” I can hear your reply in my head: “Yes, I believe they can—and don’t call me Shirley.”
Chris Sale starts tonight’s game against the Brew Crew. This would be a good time to break out the bats.
The silver lining is, if you were going to score zero runs, best to do that on the day you give up 10.
R.I.P. Martin Phillipps. I saw the Chills a few years ago in Washington, DC and I feel so lucky that I did. Hell of a band. Like a Kiwi Tragically Hip.
Greetings from Atlantic City (aka land of cranky Phillies fans),,,
The Chills were the last band I saw in Athens before I moved to the NYC area in 1990. When I arrived in Hoboken a few days later, they were the first band I saw there. Yes, they were great & Phillipps was a helluva songwriter. And I clearly remember them lighting up both crowds w/ this song:
It’s almost as if the object were to chase off all but the most loyal fans before turning it around. How diabolical.
Is all this ineptitude just okay with Braves management?
If only there were a replacement CF or 2B handy…
Do you guys think Snitker has forgotten to ask the players to try harder?
Why don’t they just play better without trying harder? I don’t want to make it too difficult for them.
Maybe they’re just trying too hard. Let’s go out there tonight and give zero f’s.