Your Opinion: Braves Chance at playoffs

[Atlanta Braves Freak]

The Braves are mired in an ugly slump and are 12 games back of the New York Mets. Do you think they'll make the playoffs? Don't ask about the division title, I'll be happy with a wild card berth.

[grizzly451]

I'll admit I voted no, barely miss the playoffs. I based that on how the team has been playing lately. Not just losing games, but the way they are losing, the lack of leadership in the clubhouse...

I still feel like things could go either way, its not even the all-star break yet and the Braves have done some crazy things in the second half before.

Not to say ol' J.S. won't pull off a trade or two that kick starts the team and gets things rolling. That wouldn't surprise me since J.S. has been so good at times in the past doing just that. Or even some minor leaguer coming up and having a big impact (Scott Thorman I hope).

But at the same time with the ownership in a transition right now I doubt there is any payroll breathing room. There might even be pressure to lower it.

Also the Mets still have a shaky rotation (Sadly no more so then the Braves). The longer the season goes the more it shows at times. Glavine has shown clear signs of wearing down his last couple outings.

[Atlanta Braves Freak]

True, they do have a shaky rotation, but the difference between the Braves and the Mets is the offense. Glavine had a so-so outing last time out, but the offense took up for him. If Smoltzie has a bad outing it won't be a given that the offense can pick up the slack.

[skar]

At the moment I don't see a way back :( but you just never know with this team, poor pitching and lack of clutch hits is killing us!

[Go Bravos!!!#1]

JS has to make a trade oe two. Then I'll be more confident.

[ATL22]

I just can't see the team making the playoffs the way things are going right now. We need to make some moves that's for sure but where does JS even start? The starting pitching, relief pitching, and hitting all need upgrades because so many guys are having subpar seasons and giving us much less than we expected. Giles, LaRoche, Langerhans, Frenchy, Reitsma, Sosa, Thomson, Cormier, Villarreal and even Chipper have been disappointments. Chipper isn't showing the middle of the order power he used to have and that we desperately need. Smoltz and Hudson havent quite pitched like the aces we were expecting. Really only McCann and Renteria have been real bright spots. So how do you fix that? You can add a piece or two or three to improve a team but on this team is it worth it? It would take just the right kind of trades. Replacing Giles with Betemit might be an upgrade there. And if Giles were packaged in a deal for a LF that can leadoff and is an upgrade over Langerhans then the lineup could receive the jolt it needs. But still guys like Chipper, Andruw, Francoeur, and LaRoche have to get it going or adding a bat or two isnt going to help. Perhaps in a Giles deal we could also get a stud reliever to upgrade the closer spot. But in reality we need another top starting pitcher too to bridge from Smoltz and Huddy to what soon should be James and Davies. Thomson and Sosa need to go. Sosa might help in the pen or he could be part of a trade.

Saying all that to say there is only so much that can be done to help this team and unless the regulars we were counting on coming out of spring training get it going then I'm not sure that trades will be enough to get us to the wild card spot. I think it is still possible for us to make the playoffs but the turnaround has to start now. I think at some point we'll start to see better baseball but I fear it will be too late and we will barely miss the wild card spot. Sad to see in Atlanta.

[Tomahawk Dynasty]

Before the late May/June slump, the Braves were playing top notch baseball. Things went sour, but they are looking up. The bats are heating up again, and the no-good bullpen (don't get me started on Sosa: 2.2million a year for that performance? Sweet Jesus...) has shaped up with a 1.70ish era in the past 5 games.

What the Braves need are momentum. The Braves haven't laid down and died in 15 years during regular play.

Mark my words: the Braves can still not only make the playoffs but win the division.

1. Our division is weak (excluding the Mets)
2. We have hit our slump, what happens when the Mets do the same?
3. Still awaiting trade opportunities.
4. 8 games out of wildcard spot and season isn't half over.
5. Bob Mothatruckin' Cox.

[14andCounting]

Pedro on the DL already, Glavine getting old and not known for his durrability the past few years... Who knows what the mets rotation will be like the second half. Its been pretty good so far, but thats not a sure thing for the rest of the year. The Braves have started coming around and playing better ball all around. They have shown they can still win some games. All we need is a little help from the mets and maybe a well thought trade. And when have the mets not helped us out when we needed them to? They are always there for us. :laugh I think we have a chance at this. How many games out of first were they last season at the break? and how many did they take the division by?

[DravenX]

It's hard to say but I am hoping for at least the Wild Card.

[KCGHOST]

They are too far back, behind too many teams to get to the playoffs. And their bullpen is an absolute mess.

[Texas Rangers]

the braves will pull an oakland athletic move and go on a hot streak. with a few or good trade, braves make wildcard.

[Atlanta Braves Freak]

Seems this poll came in handy after this little run. :)

[Francoeurstein]

I hope successor doesn't reply to this thread:ughh .

Oh, I voted wild card. They are HOT!!!!

[xholdourownx]

I voted for the wild card. Even though there are around 6-8 teams in front of them, most of those teams are within 2 games. I think the Braves will end up winning the wild card by at least 2 or 3 games. I still hope that the Mets will hit a slump and the Braves could have a chance at the division but it is very doubtful that will happen.