Many of y’all are old enough to remember October of 2021.  My memory is not what it used to be, but as I recall, the Braves lost their first postseason game that year.  I believe we can all agree that postseason turned out OK.  

So no need for post-mortems here.  We’re still pre-mortem!  This patient is still breathing, and the pulse, though faint for now, may yet turn out to be strong.

True, after last night’s 4-0 loss in San Diego, our guys are one game away from that undiscovered country from whose borne no traveler has returned.  And if the Braves’ bats continue to perform as they did in game 1, the autopsy for 2024 can begin soon.

But Max Fried takes the hill tonight for game two.  Nobody I would rather see in that spot.   Win tonight, and all of a sudden it’s a one game do or die for both teams.  It’s a fighting chance.

As to last night, I’m not going to criticize AJ Smith-Shawver; it’s not his fault he was thrust into this situation.  But nor will I second guess the decision to start him in this game.  After Monday’s doubleheader and Chris Sale’s injury, there were no obviously better options.  We can give Snit credit for managing as one should in October, when he took AJ out after one and a third.  Unfortunately, by that time it was 3-0, which was two more runs than the Padres would need on the night. 

Remarkably, the combination of Aaron Bummer and Jesse Chavez came on to combine for 4 2/3 hitless shutout innings.  Luke Jackson tossed the final two, surrendering a solo shot in the 8th to make it 4-0.  So with any kind of offense, the Braves could have clawed their way back into it.  But the only kind of offense the Braves could muster was the kind of offense we’ve seen so often in 2024, which was pretty dreadful.  Michael King befuddled them for 7 innings, striking out 12 and walking no one.

Let’s recall again that first postseason series in 2021 against the Brewers.  The Braves were linted to only four hits in game 1.  After two games Freddie Freeman was 0-7 with seven strikeouts.  That series turned out ok. 

I’m not predicting the outcome here.  If I were a gambling man like the late Pete Rose, I’d put my money on San Diego.  But I’m not much like Pete Rose, in terms of gambling or otherwise.  I’m a Braves fan and the Braves—unlike Charlie Hustle–are still alive!  As long as that’s the case, might as well keep the faith and enjoy the ride while it lasts.

In 1997, Bob Dylan sang “It’s not dark yet, but it’s getting there.” Bob is still out there performing 27 years later. We’ve still got some light.