Bobby Cox sets the date

[Scrumtrilescent]

7of their last 10 games are against the Nats while the Rockies are playing the Cards, Brewers, and Dodgers. If they are gonna do it, the Schedule Gods have set it up.

[Johnny Rockets]

7of their last 10 games are against the Nats while the Rockies are playing the Cards, Brewers, and Dodgers. If they are gonna do it, the Schedule Gods have set it up.

Not so fast...

Garrett Mock > Jesus Hansen

If you guys don't make, can we borrow one of your pitchers to close games for us in the post season?

I am puling for the Braves to make it. Would be fun.

[Scrumtrilescent]

Soriano for Werth.

[Johnny Rockets]

Soriano for Werth.

Done....but you have to give him back after the post season. Actually I probably wouldn't mind that for good. Never been a big Werth fan. Don't hate him.....just not a big fan and we need a closer.

[Fiz]

All they need next year is a corner outfielder and a 1st basemen (if they don't keep LaRoche or if he does his annual first half snooze), they need about 30+ more HRs to their lineup. When Derek Lowe is gonna be your 4th starter, you're doing ok in that area. The team has Hudson's option for 2010 so if they want him, it'll be because they want to. Middle relief is gonna be OK since Gonzo figured out how to pitch after the break, Medlen will be a bit older, and hell even Campillo may be back. If not, you can always sign some scrub which is what 90% of teams do. Soriano may be back. I'd like to see Anderson and Church back to fill out a decent bench, hoping Diaz comes back too...most of their expiring contracts are fringe/bench players. Not a bad shopping list considering the mess this past offseason was. But if they don't get that corner outfielder and 1st basemen, it'll be another year of sketchy offense supporting pretty good pitching. Eh, the Marlins are going to have a firesale this winter so most of the league will get some decent players, cheap.

they don't need a corner outfielder because diaz has basically said he'll sign for peanuts and they're bringing heyward up next year. you really don't want him in center field.

however it's pretty clear that neither nate mcclouth or ryan church are any good, and they need far more than just 30+ more home runs, especially considering the phillies are going to spend the world on their pitching staff in the offseason.

mike gonzalez figures out and forgets how to pitch on an inning by inning basis.

their second half charge has been fueled by a guy who won't be there next year, adam laroche, who they won't be able to resign because they don't have the cash. kris medlen looks awful.

you're really banking on 31 year old jorge campillo, a guy who is falling apart, to contribute? he's basically buddy carlyle in that he had a fluke season.

[Scrumtrilescent]

Middle relief is every club's lowest priority. Matt Diaz is a spot starter/bench guy along with Church. I'd put Schaefer in CF if he is truly healthy and ready. If not, even though McLouth isn't what was advertised he's not horrible in center. I don't want to bring him up, but if Freeman is ready he can be that 1st baseman we need...and put Chipper over there until he falls apart. They just need an average/slightly above average 1st baseman or 3rd baseman added. Maybe a middling closer for a shitty team. Valverde, Nunez, Soria, etc. Give Medlen a bit, he's been shuffled back and forth for the first time in his career, weird role for a young pitcher. He's got the stuff, just needs to have his role defined. If not here, then somewhere else.

Pitching isn't what I'm worried about, it's the lack of power they need to buy and maybe when Bobby does retire they'll get back to a legit leadoff man who can steal bases every blue moon.

[Scrumtrilescent]

Done....but you have to give him back after the post season. Actually I probably wouldn't mind that for good. Never been a big Werth fan. Don't hate him.....just not a big fan and we need a closer.

Soriano is the second coming of Lidge. But add the weird ass injuries. If they sign him, great and I'd be for it but if they lose him and get someone else I wouldn't mind that either. They have a prospect in the minors who's being groomed to close and they are doing it slowly, not going for a Joey Devine, part II.

[Fiz]

Matt Diaz is a spot starter/bench guy along with Church.

what are you talking about

diaz has a 900+ ops this year as a starter which is better than any free agent you could sign.

I don't want to bring him up, but if Freeman is ready he can be that 1st baseman we need...and put Chipper over there until he falls apart.

and do what, have Ifante - Escobar - Prado - Chipper?

Forgetting for a second that chipper refuses to play any other position other than third and pouted when they made him play left, you'd pretty much have the least powerful infield in baseball.

Pitching isn't what I'm worried about, it's the lack of power they need to buy and maybe when Bobby does retire they'll get back to a legit leadoff man who can steal bases every blue moon.

they won't buy anyone because they don't have the money.

at least yeah once bobby strokes out they can start signing black players since his racist ass won't be there

[Kevin Greene]

Nah, Millwood is good for what he really is, a #3 starter. When people try to make him a frontline guy, he doesn't have the makeup for it.

What you need to have for the post season is a horse to carry the team.

Orel Hershiser was that guy in '88 for the Dodgers. They had no business being on the field with the A's. But Hershiser and a lights out Dodger bullpen took the Bash Bros down.

[Fiz]

What you need to have for the post season is a horse to carry the team.

Orel Hershiser was that guy in '88 for the Dodgers. They had no business being on the field with the A's. But Hershiser and a lights out Dodger bullpen took the Bash Bros down.

yes oral hershiser pitching every game of the series is what won it for them wow it's like having our very own joe morgan breaking down games

for the braves, an offense that could score 2 runs when their pitching held a team to 1 would probably have been useful.

but no it's the pitchers jobs for chocking because in every year from 91-97 they had a lower playoff era than regular season

[Kevin Greene]

What you need to have for the post season is a horse to carry the team.

Orel Hershiser was that guy in '88 for the Dodgers. They had no business being on the field with the A's. But Hershiser and a lights out Dodger bullpen took the Bash Bros down.

yes oral hershiser pitching every game of the series is what won it for them wow it's like having our very own joe morgan breaking down games

for the braves, an offense that could score 2 runs when their pitching held a team to 1 would probably have been useful.

but no it's the pitchers jobs for chocking because in every year from 91-97 they had a lower playoff era than regular season

Orel, not Oral butthead.

As I said, a horse and a lights out bullpen.

Game 1 Canseco hits a first inning grand salami off the Dodgers starter. 4-0 As. The As got nothing else the rest of the game as the bullpen shut the door. And we all know what Gibby did in the bottom of the 9th with the Dodgers trailng 4-3.

1-0 Dodgers.

Hershiser pitches game 2 and 5, both wins.

That's 3 wins between Hershiser and the bullpen.

Tim belcher wins one game in between. Series over, 4-1 Blue.

Sucks your teams' pitching staff were serial chokers but it is what it is.

[Kevin Greene]

Incidentally in the '88 NLCS Hershiser had no decisions in game 1 (2 earned runs) and 3 (1 earned run), a save in game 4 and a complete game shutout in game 7.

*Horse whinnie*

[Scrumtrilescent]

I"m a huge Matt Diaz--Professional Hitter--fan. Just don't know if he can do it as a full time starter, if he can then that'd be awesome. Gives them some flexibility in the outfield if/when Heywood hits the rookie wall/slump. Like I said, they need the corner outfielder with some pop and a 1st baseman. Gives them a bunch of flexibility.

I don't think Bobby is racist, just gotten overly conservative in his offensive outlook over the last decade. I'd love for him to get back to the early 90s where he just let Nixon, Sanders, and Grissom (who was only on one good leg by then anyway) steal whenever they wanted, as long as it wasn't 3rd with 2 outs unless he put it on.

KG---I know you hate the Braves and how they beat the Dodgers in the race in '91 but let it go, man.

[Kevin Greene]

KG---I know you hate the Braves and how they beat the Dodgers in the race in '91 but let it go, man.

'91?

I still haven't gotten over Hank hitting 715 off Al Downing.