This has been one great week

[rico43]

No one saw September coming.

A six-game winning streak, now a seven game streak and a very real chance the Braves wind up with the best record in the majors for the month. This has been a wild ride, a hoot, and very possibly Ground Zero for the next great run of teams.

It isn't just that they have won seven games again division opponents. If you have taken a moment to watch even one of these games, live or replay, it's how they have managed to win them. Remarkable defense, especially by the outfielders, and CLUTCH play like we haven't seen in years.

Why?

A lot of folks are jumping onto the Snitker bandwagon, and it's clear that players are happy to be playing for him. And he might be the answer. What is clear is that there seems to be a chemistry with he and this current roster, and that could easily be fouled up by the wrong guy to come in from outside. More than the wrong trade or FA signee, the wrong manager could send this rebuild up in flames.

Here's why.

Two years from now, Schuerholz will be retired; Hart will likely be retired, which Coppy will not have a check or a second opinion to officially draw upon. When left to his own devices, the Olivera-Wood trade ensues. He and the new manager will be the principal decision makers or which young players stay, which ones are traded and which ones bump back to the minors.

All we're saying is that Snitkner needs to be re-evaluated completely before being hired. I personally worry about his handling of pitchers, and whether or not McDowell will be kept as pitching coach and Seitzer as hitting coach. Of course an outside hire will want to right to bring in his own people.

The Braves Way still works, it seems. But is it Coppy's Way? And is this truly what a Snitker team looks like?

And BTW, the manager needs to be in place before any roster changes are addressed.

[50PoundHead]

The big thing to me is that they are doing this against teams contending for a playoff spot. When I initially saw the September schedule, I thought it would be something in the neighborhood of an 7-20 month. They've played well against solid competition.

[SidSlid92]

Always great to win, except when it costs you the top pick

[nsacpi]

serendipity and synchronicity make for winning baseball...i would be careful not to over-interpret September...small sample and all that jazz...

as for Snitker the better test was how the team held up when they were losing 7 or 8 out of ten...he passed that one

[NinersSBChamps]

Yay winning meaningless games is so awesome. Just points to the fact that the front office is cheap. They don't want to pay up for the first overall pick.

[msstate7]

What's snitker's record now?

[msstate7]

Yay winning meaningless games is so awesome. Just points to the fact that the front office is cheap. They don't want to pay up for the first overall pick.

Our FO can really sell to get the nats, mets, and Marlins to buy in to letting us win so we won't have to pay top pick.

[Carp]

The Braves are now .500 over their last 90 games. But people still think fielding a competitive team in 2017 is a pipe dream.....

[KB21]

No one saw September coming.

A six-game winning streak, now a seven game streak and a very real chance the Braves wind up with the best record in the majors for the month. This has been a wild ride, a hoot, and very possibly Ground Zero for the next great run of teams.

It isn't just that they have won seven games again division opponents. If you have taken a moment to watch even one of these games, live or replay, it's how they have managed to win them. Remarkable defense, especially by the outfielders, and CLUTCH play like we haven't seen in years.

Why?

A lot of folks are jumping onto the Snitker bandwagon, and it's clear that players are happy to be playing for him. And he might be the answer. What is clear is that there seems to be a chemistry with he and this current roster, and that could easily be fouled up by the wrong guy to come in from outside. More than the wrong trade or FA signee, the wrong manager could send this rebuild up in flames.

Here's why.

Two years from now, Schuerholz will be retired; Hart will likely be retired, which Coppy will not have a check or a second opinion to officially draw upon. When left to his own devices, the Olivera-Wood trade ensues. He and the new manager will be the principal decision makers or which young players stay, which ones are traded and which ones bump back to the minors.

All we're saying is that Snitkner needs to be re-evaluated completely before being hired. I personally worry about his handling of pitchers, and whether or not McDowell will be kept as pitching coach and Seitzer as hitting coach. Of course an outside hire will want to right to bring in his own people.

The Braves Way still works, it seems. But is it Coppy's Way? And is this truly what a Snitker team looks like?

And BTW, the manager needs to be in place before any roster changes are addressed.

I have some concerns about Coppy since he isn't a real baseball guy, but he has surrounded himself with strong baseball guys in Roy Clark, Gordon Blakeley, Brian Bridges, Rick Williams.....etc.

Brian Snitker is the obvious choice for manager though.

[KB21]

The Braves are now .500 over their last 90 games. But people still think fielding a competitive team in 2017 is a pipe dream.....

The Braves have the 4th most wins in baseball since July 25th.

[AerchAngel]

Get an ace, Sale, Quintana or anyone else, we will be in the playoffs next year guaranteed.

No disrespect to Teheran, dude is like Rick Mahler (God rest his soul a good man), keeping the rotation solid, but we need someone to share the burden and put him at #2 so he doesn't have to exert so much effort to win every freaking game.

[smootness]

Yay winning meaningless games is so awesome. Just points to the fact that the front office is cheap. They don't want to pay up for the first overall pick.

If it was ever in doubt that you are simply a troll, here is the proof.

[msstate7]

The Braves have the 4th most wins in baseball since July 25th.

Nice

[KB21]

The only similarities between Julio Teheran and Rick Mahler is that they both played for the Braves. That's it.

[UNCBlue012]

Yay winning meaningless games is so awesome. Just points to the fact that the front office is cheap. They don't want to pay up for the first overall pick.

Or they have a set of balls? Jesus dude, what a stupid comment.

[clvclv]

Get an ace, Sale, Quintana or anyone else, we will be in the playoffs next year guaranteed.

No disrespect to Teheran, dude is like Rick Mahler (God rest his soul a good man), keeping the rotation solid, but we need someone to share the burden and put him at #2 so he doesn't have to exert so much effort to win every freaking game.

Not even necessarily an "Ace" like those two (providing the brass doesn't want to pay the acquisition cost), but someone who is a legit #2/#3 type to lessen the pressure on Julio. Someone you know has a good chance to keep you in every game that you score 3-4 runs in.

(Gotta agree that the Mahler/Teheran comp is a bit of a stretch though.)

[bravesnumberone]

The Kemp acquisition has really allowed the offense to take off. This is the complete opposite of the Fredi September. The team plays with so much energy; it's refreshing. I don't know if Snitker is for sure the right choice, but I can't think of any legit reason at this point to not give it to him. Short of coaxing a Joe Maddon type to come in, who is going to get more out of this bunch?

[AerchAngel]

Not even necessarily an "Ace" like those two (providing the brass doesn't want to pay the acquisition cost), but someone who is a legit #2/#3 type to lessen the pressure on Julio. Someone you know has a good chance to keep you in every game that you score 3-4 runs in.

(Gotta agree that the Mahler/Teheran comp is a bit of a stretch though.)

Look at context my friend. They are not comparable in pitching, I am thinking of the shoulders they bare in the rotation. Giving their all each and every game to have the team fight and win a game.

[AerchAngel]

Mahler would not last two months in the league today with his average stuff, (very light Collmenter). Even Niekro would have issues. McMurtry, he would lead the league in homers giving up. I am comparing the past to the present on our pitchers back then on how they go out there give the team a chance to win and call it a day.

[depley]

even more remarkable with this finishing stretch is the team ERA which is among the worst in baseball. They have done it with defense and hitting, if you could somehow drop that 4.40 ERA down to a say 3.40 ERA this team would be dangerous. For me that means you need to somehow trade for an ace to go in front of Teheran, or sign a free agent, and that might be someone like a Rich Hill, who would not require giving up a draft pick as he cannot be given a qualifying offer since he was traded mid year. Sure he might be old, but his results are very ace like plus he would give us a left hander in the rotation. Give the guy a 3 year deal at 15-18M per year and you might just get him.

and for all those lamenting the fact we have played ourselves out of the first pick, remember Trout was a 27th pick, not a #1...... there is no gotta have consensus first pick in the upcoming draft.