NL East Race Watch

[sph274]

the braves get MEdlen and BEachy back next year no? So their rotation probably gets better without Santana and Harang.

[Slateman]

the braves get MEdlen and BEachy back next year no? So their rotation probably gets better without Santana and Harang.

Medlen and Beachy will both be coming back from their second TJS. I have serious doubts about their abilities.

[3bside]

Venters just re-tore his UCL trying to rehab from his second TJ and is slated for his third TJ.  The Braves are building an abysmal track record in rehabbing TJ pitchers.

[imref]

the braves get MEdlen and BEachy back next year no? So their rotation probably gets better without Santana and Harang.

Harang has been pretty solid this year.

[wpa2629]

Atlanta's pitching isn't the problem - it's their impossibly awful lineup - and unless they dump $$$$ uptons, johnson, the fat janitor and teach simmons how to hit - it's not going to get any better

[Slateman]

Venters just re-tore his UCL trying to rehab from his second TJ and is slated for his third TJ.  The Braves are building an abysmal track record in rehabbing TJ pitchers.

Been saying this for two years. Everyone said I was being dumb.

[NJ Ave]

reasonable fans demand their teams run in the red (actually I'm pretty sure Rogers Communications is has more money than the Lerners)

11 teams DO run their teams in the red (or did last year). However, a "reasonable fan" might look at those teams - Dodgers and Royals but also Phillies, Blue Jays, Reds, Yankees, Marlins, Diamondbacks, Rangers, White Sox, and Indians - and draw a conclusion that these teams are not running in the red because they're optimizing playoff chances, but because they CAN'T RUN THEIR BUSINESSES EFFECTIVELY.

The 12 teams that made $15 million or more last year in operating profit (Nats were at $22.4 million) include market suckers like the Astros and Twins, but also: Rays, Pirates, Red Sox, Athletics, Braves, Giants, and Cardinals.

So another conclusion that you can draw is that we should be GLAD the Nationals are profitable, because it's indicative of ownership that KNOW HOW TO RUN A BUSINESS, which - like all those other long-term successful franchises - gives us a good chance of continued success because the same know-how that leads to good profitability decisions leads to making good baseball decisions.

[Natsinpwc]

Atlanta's pitching isn't the problem - it's their impossibly awful lineup - and unless they dump $$$$ uptons, johnson, the fat janitor and teach simmons how to hit - it's not going to get any better

You are correct; despite all the pitching injuries it has been their lack of hitting.  The BJ Upton contract is an albatross around their neck.  Heyward is an excellent fielder but doesn't look like he will ever hit.  Freeman is their only solid hitter.

[sph274]

You are correct; despite all the pitching injuries it has been their lack of hitting.  The BJ Upton contract is an albatross around their neck.  Heyward is an excellent fielder but doesn't look like he will ever hit.  Freeman is their only solid hitter.

Justin Upton isnt the MVP everyone thought he was gonna be but he is a pretty solid hitter. I hope Bryce doesnt end up following his career trajectory...

[wpa2629]

Justin Upton isnt the MVP everyone thought he was gonna be but he is a pretty solid hitter. I hope Bryce doesnt end up following his career trajectory...

An extremely streaky strike out machine that can't field a lick isn't worth the eleventy billion dollars they are spending on him -

[sph274]

An extremely streaky strike out machine that can't field a lick isn't worth the eleventy billion dollars they are spending on him -

14.25 million? doesnt soriano make more? He has a higher OPS than anyone on our team

[spidernat]

Soriano makes $14 but half of it is deferred until 2018-2025 to be paid in annual installments.

[wpa2629]

14.25 million? doesnt soriano make more? He has a higher OPS than anyone on our team

Let's not talk about Soriano  - Not all salaries are created equal - 14.25 million for the Nats isn't the same impact as it is in Atlanta

Anyway Upton's streaks are brutal - he can be red hot for a while and carry the team, but his lows are so impossibly low, he's a liability - It's like he's bipolar - overall OPS is nice and all - but some consistency and a lick of defense would be nice too

plus he's a giant douche so freak him

[sph274]

eh J Upton is actually a great player and a great deal for the braves. In June he hit .617 but every month outside of that is above .877. he has three months with an OPS higher than .900. He is a pretty good player. i hate the braves as well but Upton and Freeman is a pretty great tandem and Freeman is only getting better

[wpa2629]

eh J Upton is actually a great player and a great deal for the braves. In June he hit .617 but every month outside of that is above .877. he has three months with an OPS higher than .900. He is a pretty good player. i hate the braves as well but Upton and Freeman is a pretty great tandem and Freeman is only getting better

Freeman is legit

freak upton

 or better yet let me just jog into the corner and throw up my hands and give up on the ball instead

[Baseball is Life]

freak upton

 or better yet let me just jog into the corner and throw up my hands and give up on the ball instead

Will always be on my all-time all-dbag team because of that.

[Clever]

NINE

[imref]

we're going to sweep the Mets and clinch in Atlanta!

[varoadking]

we're going to sweep the Mets and clinch in Atlanta!

 

[houston-nat]

Division championship odds are now at 100.0%

We are the only team in MLB with 100% odds. Even the Orioles are at 99.8%

[Slateman]

On the bright side, we probably won't have to face Stanton when we play Miami.

[stealyerbase]

On the bright side, we probably won't have to face Stanton when we play Miami.

Right. And I feel bad for thinking that but that's what I thought.

[Optics]

Division championship odds are now at 100.0%

We are the only team in MLB with 100% odds. Even the Orioles are at 99.8%

How can it be 100% when we haven't actually clinched yet? I mean it's all but ours at this point, but I would say there is still like a .001% chance we could blow it.

[varoadking]

How can it be 100% when we haven't actually clinched yet?

Rounding...and remaining opponent records...

[PowerBoater69]

Rounding...and remaining opponent records...

Does it look at remaining schedule? I thought that run differential played a big part.