Ok
I want to address one more issue: Atlanta's postseason chances. Baring
a major collapse by the Mets the division is theirs. This leaves the
Wild Card. I found these statistics on some website and I will post it
here for the people who refuse to acknowledge the Braves are playing
excellent ball lately and think they have no shot at being in the
playoffs.
During the last week before the break, they
trimmed a 10 game deficiet down to 6 1/2 games. Here is how 11 teams in
the final few weeks of the season. This next section is copied and
pasted...
1. Los Angeles (46-42):
Dodgers are 10-12 with a 4.85 ERA and only 11 home runs in 22 games
since June 16, and have won just one of their past four series.
2. Colorado (44-43):
Rockies are 10-11 with a .258 batting average since June 16, including
three straight home losses to Arizona to close the "first half."
3. Cincinnati (45-44): Reds went 1-8 with a 6.69 ERA to finish half. 'Nuff said.
4. San Francisco (45-44): Giants are 11-12 with a .252 average and 4.52 ERA since June 16, and with one series win in five before the break.
5. Milwaukee (44-46):
Brewers are 9-11 with .244 average and 5.01 ERA since June 19, and lost
three in a row to the lowly Cubs to close the first half.
6. Arizona (43-45): D-backs are 9-23 with a 6.13 ERA since June 5. Six-one-three.
7. Houston (43-46):
Astros are 7-13 with a .242 average and shaky bullpen since June 18,
and lost three in a row to Central rival St. Louis before the break.
8. Philadelphia (40-47): Phillies are 7-18 with 5.72 ERA since June 11, and are expected to start selling off parts (Burrell, Gordon, etc.) any day now.
9. Atlanta (40-49):
Braves are 10-6 with .292 average and 3.73 ERA since June 23, and lead
the majors with .339 average and .564 slugging percentage in July.
10. Florida (38-48): Marlins' youth is showing; 3-7 with a 6.93 ERA in July.
11. Washington (38-52): Nationals are 8-18 with a 6.51 ERA since June 12, and are expected to shed some big salaries before the July 31 trade deadline.
