GDT 6/25: Lopez and a rainy night in the city of blues
- Thread starter Hulavol
- Start date
50PoundHead
Hessmania Forever
I agree. The only thing that would keep them out of the playoffs is if the rest of the wheels fall off. This is a good team. Hard to tell which team is deeper: The Braves or the Phillies. Even with Acuna out, the Braves' offense is probably better if guys play to their career averages. That just isn't happening at the moment. Pitching has been better than I expected.
CyYoung31
Shift Leader
1000%
Nerfherders
Well-known member
Except that they've been stuck in neutral for two months. 26-29 in their last 55 games. That's a third of the season and I don't see this changing. A week ago it seemed so and then they **** the bed again. All that recent good run did is return them to their 10+ (over .500) -ish place.
Now if they built on the 12+ they started with and were, say, 18+ at this point, I'd say everything is fine. All I see now is limping along and maybe being just above .500 at the end. We haven't even sniffed the team that played those first 24 games and I don't think we will again.
In other words, I think this team IS the 26-29 team theyve been, and if you extrapolate that out for their last 83 games it's a 39-44 finish. ending at 83-79. That ain't gonna get it done.
That isn't how it works. You can't take the times they've played bad and ignore the times they've played well. It's a long season and there are bound to be ups and downs.
cajunrevenge
Well-known member
We won 100+ last year and where did that get us. Maybe we aren't the best regular season team but maybe we are better suited for October. Our record when the big 3 start is phenomenal. About .500 when Morton starts then a whole lot of losses from the 5th and 6th starters. Maybe the big 3 are worn out come October because of their huge innings increase. Maybe we are better suited for being an underdog not expected to go far than the powerhouse we were viewed as last year.
bravesfanMatt
Steve Harvey'd
actually it is more likely the team is mid level than good. He literally laid out a larger stretch of play that was sub .500.. plus the injuries/poor leadership/ lack of situational hitting and overall sleep walking sort of negates any good stretch.. this team is a long ways from the team that played .600 + ball for a few weeks this year.
I can play that game too. We started out 26-13, good for a 108 win pace. Then hit a 25 game skid where we went 8-17. Since that 25 game skid we are 9-5, which is good for a 104 win pace. Those 2 good stretches add up to 53 games, which is 1/3 of the season. So we've played at a 104+ win pace for 1/3 of the season.
See how that works?
CyYoung31
Shift Leader
So, if the Braves were on a 99 win pace, you’d be more willing to believe that they’d reach 91 wins than the 91 win pace that they’re currently on?
CyYoung31
Shift Leader
Why do you think they just had a good two week stretch to get them back to their current pace? Because with the injuries and underperformance this is a 90-ish win team. Teams don’t play consistently at their expected W/L all year.
bravesfanMatt
Steve Harvey'd
I do, but again you are negating the outside factors.. you are assuming all things are equal and they are not. Since that first 1/3, Braves have lost their best pitcher, their best over all player, their starting CF for an extended period. This team is not the first 1/3 team by any stretch.
CyYoung31
Shift Leader
No one said they were.
Acuna, Harris, and Strider weren't performing particularly well during that first stretch anyways. They have collectively combined for .9 WAR so far this year.
Sure, we would be a better team with those guys healthy, but their production wasn't overly significant to that 26-13 start. We would be the best team in baseball if those guys were healthy and playing up their ability. But this is still a very good team without those players healthy. Not to mention, we will get Harris back at some point.
DaneHill
Well-known member
Did we speak too soon?
Tapate50
Well-known member
We are incredibly thin