When the Braves passed this point last year, winning the division seemed far-fetched but a playoff berth seemed highly likely. And of course, we all know how that turned out.
So this year, much to the surprise of this observer and many other, a division title is well within reach. Once again, Atlanta is atop the Wild Card race—albeit by a smaller lead than the team had last year. Still, there's also an extra playoff spot at stake. So, how confident should this Braves fan be?
Well, there's certainly a lot to like. Considering Atlanta is chasing a surprising Washington team that is supposedly going to be shutting down its phenom pitcher at some point before the race is over, I'm trying not to be satisfied with just a Wild Card berth. While Kris Medlen has seemingly come out of nowhere to become a near unhittable starter, the prospect of having to play a single-game playoff does not strike me as working in the Braves' favor. Hell, even a five-game series is a little risky. It seems as though Atlanta seems far better-equipped to win four games out of seven than three of five or the dreadful lone game that will determine who gets to move on to play a division winner.
It will be an extremely nerve-racking finish, I imagine. The photo used for the graphic was one I chose from perhaps the best victory the team has had this year, an astonishing comeback from a 9-0 deficit against the Nats in July that represents the sort of never-say-die attitude a fan would hope the Braves can summon again as they finish the year. That 11-10 victory was a remarkable feat, for sure, and the sort of win that one would hope the team is looking back on fondly and citing as a moment they came to believe they could still be playing in October rather than thinking about other games that got away.
At the moment, Atlanta is one of four teams within about two games of one another for those two additional playoff spots. Still, keeping last year in mind, the number of contenders doubles if you don't rule out the clubs within 10 or so games. So are the playoffs still possible? Sure. But I'm not assuming anything's a given by any means.
Who knows, maybe the Marlins I originally picked to win this year's World Series will turn it around and surprise everybody. OK ... maybe some things are safe to assume.
So this year, much to the surprise of this observer and many other, a division title is well within reach. Once again, Atlanta is atop the Wild Card race—albeit by a smaller lead than the team had last year. Still, there's also an extra playoff spot at stake. So, how confident should this Braves fan be?
Well, there's certainly a lot to like. Considering Atlanta is chasing a surprising Washington team that is supposedly going to be shutting down its phenom pitcher at some point before the race is over, I'm trying not to be satisfied with just a Wild Card berth. While Kris Medlen has seemingly come out of nowhere to become a near unhittable starter, the prospect of having to play a single-game playoff does not strike me as working in the Braves' favor. Hell, even a five-game series is a little risky. It seems as though Atlanta seems far better-equipped to win four games out of seven than three of five or the dreadful lone game that will determine who gets to move on to play a division winner.
It will be an extremely nerve-racking finish, I imagine. The photo used for the graphic was one I chose from perhaps the best victory the team has had this year, an astonishing comeback from a 9-0 deficit against the Nats in July that represents the sort of never-say-die attitude a fan would hope the Braves can summon again as they finish the year. That 11-10 victory was a remarkable feat, for sure, and the sort of win that one would hope the team is looking back on fondly and citing as a moment they came to believe they could still be playing in October rather than thinking about other games that got away.
At the moment, Atlanta is one of four teams within about two games of one another for those two additional playoff spots. Still, keeping last year in mind, the number of contenders doubles if you don't rule out the clubs within 10 or so games. So are the playoffs still possible? Sure. But I'm not assuming anything's a given by any means.
Who knows, maybe the Marlins I originally picked to win this year's World Series will turn it around and surprise everybody. OK ... maybe some things are safe to assume.
