September 23, 2012

Show #202: The Braves Continue March Toward Postseason

The impact of Medlen. Praising Minor. Worrying about Hanson.  Comparing this September to last September.

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77 Responses to “Show #202: The Braves Continue March Toward Postseason”

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  1. 1
    Frigatedoc Says:
    September 23rd, 2012 at 11:41 pm

    I may be crazy…..but looking at he upcoming games for us and the Nats…. we can still win this thing. (The East)

    IF we do I would actually bank at Suntrust….and my daughter is not even engaged yet.

  2. 2
    will Says:
    September 24th, 2012 at 7:37 am

    @1 was doing same thing today

  3. 3
    David Says:
    September 24th, 2012 at 8:39 am

    Wow, Curt — good call:

    Josh Johnson’s career splits, 1st half vs. 2nd half:

    1st half: 33-18, 2.71 ERA, 1.186 WHIP (518.2 IP, 80 starts); 25 HR
    2nd half: 23-18, 3.74 ERA, 1.291 WHIP (392 IP, 63 starts); 33 HR

    This year, he’s been better in the 2nd half (4.06 1st half ERA vs. 3.56 2nd half), but for most of his career, he’s been a 1st half pitcher.

  4. 4
    Steve Says:
    September 24th, 2012 at 9:31 am

    @3 – Curt, way to make up stuff and have it be true! If only Hammy could tap in to that power.

  5. 5
    Curt Says:
    September 24th, 2012 at 10:33 am

    See, I knew what I was talking about the whole time……

  6. 6
    Shaun Says:
    September 24th, 2012 at 10:51 am

    Thanks for the congrats on last week’s show. I’m not sure the newborn could play second base right now, but perhaps my three-year-old could handle it.

  7. 7
    Curt Says:
    September 24th, 2012 at 11:28 am

    Can he lay off a high fastball?

  8. 8
    Mark in Memphis Says:
    September 24th, 2012 at 11:49 am

    I think the real problem for Medlen and the Cy is that he won’t have enough innings to qualify for the ERA title…

  9. 9
    Mark in Memphis Says:
    September 24th, 2012 at 11:56 am

    “The Myth” that they decided to pitch Medlen in the bullpen early so he would be available late to be a starter, if needed – while still keeping him to a 160-ish inning limit ala Strausburg, was confirmed by Joe Simpson during a Braves broadcast detailing a conversation Joe had with Fredi in Spring Training.

    However, I agree with you that they never really expected Medlen to be THIS good as a starter…

  10. 10
    Shaun Says:
    September 24th, 2012 at 12:42 pm

    Here’s a philosophical question about the Cy Young: Should the voters punish guys like Medlen, Kimbrel, Chapman, etc. because of the way their teams use them?

    If the Cy Young should go to the pitcher with the most value, I don’t think either of these guys has thrown enough innings to accrue enough value. But baseball convention dictates teams only use pitchers like Kimbrel for one inning at a time, mostly in save situations. Should the voters punish Kimbrel for baseball’s strange convention of concentrating too much on the save or the last inning or whatever managers are concentrating on when they decide to use relievers in the ways that they use them these days?

    But should we go down this path? If our rationale is refusing to punish Kimbrel for modern bullpen usage, what’s to stop some mid-season call-up from winning the MVP, or something like that?

  11. 11
    Mark in Memphis Says:
    September 24th, 2012 at 12:50 pm

    The most interesting case playoff scenario for me is that the Braves tie for the division, which means a one game playoff for the division, and in this case, then a one game play-in wildcard game, and then the real playoffs start… What fun…

  12. 12
    Shaun Says:
    September 24th, 2012 at 1:22 pm

    You know what would be hilarious and would piss me off to no end at the same time? If the Phillies came back, won the second wild card, then beat the Braves in the one-game playoff.

  13. 13
    DAP Says:
    September 24th, 2012 at 3:23 pm

    Great show guys. I feel very good about the Braves heading into the playoffs. Thats something I couldnt have said last year if they had squeaked in, and I couldnt say it in 2010 when they did squeak in. September is when young players can sometimes hit a wall, so Fredi needs to spend the next two weeks getting everybody some rest. if Jason and Freddie catch thier wind, we could do alot of damage in the playoffs, and I honestly see that happening for us this year. I’m not seeing one and done, and I’m not seeing us whimper in defeat in the DS.

  14. 14
    Walker Says:
    September 24th, 2012 at 7:57 pm

    I don’t really consider the wild card game the part of the real playoffs. I will be rooting like heck in that one game but who really knows what the hell will happen. It’s so fake and artificial to me. If we get to the Division Series then my hopes for the World Series Championship goes sky high. Until then my expectations are extremely tempered.

    I have a extreme idea. How about next year make the wild card round a 2 game series. What????? Let me explain. Give the wild card club with the highest seed both games at home and require them to only win 1 of the 2 games to move on to the Division round. The wild card team with the lowest seed is should be required to win BOTH games to move on to the next round. This gives leeway and wiggle room for the highest seed and punishment for the lowest seed.

    For example, this year the Braves and the Cardinals would play a 2 game series at Turner field. The Braves would have to win 1 game to advance. The Cardinals would have to win all 2 games to advance.

    To me this is fairer and just as fun as a 1 game playoff or coin flip game.

  15. 15
    Walker Says:
    September 24th, 2012 at 9:19 pm

    How can I send this idea to Bud Selig?

  16. 16
    Steve Says:
    September 24th, 2012 at 9:19 pm

    @13- thanks DAP. And by the way, me too. Except I’m not admitting it out loud.

    @14- I like it. Anything but the one game playoff.

  17. 17
    Shaun Says:
    September 25th, 2012 at 11:03 am

    Walker, I think the whole idea of expanded playoffs and a one-game wild card round is to bring in the casual fan. I doubt MLB will ever go for something that isn’t somewhat simple.

    But I think there are clearly better alternatives to bring in casual fans and to make the playoffs more rewarding to teams that are the best over the long haul.

    How’s this: No divisions, balanced schedule, top two teams get a bye, seed 6 at seed 3 for three games, seed 5 at seed 4 for three games, no off days in the first round and no off days between the first round and the second round, all later rounds are seven-game series.

    You get high-intensity, expanded playoffs to bring in casual fans and you reward the two best regular season teams.

  18. 18
    Walker Says:
    September 25th, 2012 at 12:23 pm

    @ Shaun

    Your idea would be the ideal situation because it makes major changes to the schedule and abolishes divisions.But we all know the MLB is obsessed with divisions and rivalries.

  19. 19
    Curt Says:
    September 25th, 2012 at 2:12 pm

    And shorten the season

  20. 20
    Walker Says:
    September 25th, 2012 at 8:56 pm

    This reminds me of that 2 HR Justin Maxwell game. Who is this Donovan Solano dude?

  21. 21
    Curt Says:
    September 25th, 2012 at 9:09 pm

    And why do you throw that pitch with 2 strikes and 2 outs

  22. 22
    Adam Says:
    September 25th, 2012 at 9:38 pm

    Wow.

  23. 23
    Walker Says:
    September 25th, 2012 at 9:43 pm

    Yesssssssssss!!!!!

    In spite of Fredi we made it.

  24. 24
    Curt Says:
    September 25th, 2012 at 9:44 pm

    What a way to get back in. Screw you September 2011

  25. 25
    Ham Says:
    September 25th, 2012 at 10:28 pm

    I could watch Chipper’s clubhouse, post-game interview a hundred times (and I just might). My division crown hope meter is a 5. Woohoo!

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