That should be US!

The Braves are back from an unsuccessful road trip (0-3 vs. Mets, 1-2 vs. Cardinals) and have a day off before facing the Florida Marlins. Entering this series this late in the year the fact that one of these teams is 5 games back in the division and the other is 15 back isn’t surprising to anyone. What is surprising is that Florida is the team that’s closer to the top than to the bottom, where the Braves reside. (The Nationals sit 26 GB.)

When this season started the Braves, with a revamped rotation and Tex anchoring the lineup, looked like the team to beat in the NL East. The Marlins on the other hand looked like they might make a run at #3 in the division if all broke correctly. They had just traded the team ace and the team’s best hitter and many pundits figured, “maybe in 2010.” But Florida was out front early behind a strong bullpen and thanks to the power of second basemen Dan Uggla.

Eventually the Marlins faded back to No. 3 behind the Mets and the Phillies, but the Marlins have put the pressure on New York and Philadelphia that everyone thought Atlanta would. Injuries have certainly taken a toll on Atlanta’s chances, but the team’s road woes certainly have not helped. The Braves have now lost 27 straight one run decisions on the road and the clutch hit has eluded the team all season.
Teixeira was jettisoned at the end of July, but one month later, new first baseman Casey Kotchman hasn’t really stepped into the void. The team has had to rely on supersub Omar Infante to fill in at second, shortstop, centerfield and leftfield, and while he has stepped up, I think the Braves brass was hoping he would be a fill-in guy and not a necessitated starter.

Bottom line, injuries have crippled the team’s chances and possibly wrecked next season as well. With the uncertainty of a John Smoltz return as well as a Tom Glavine return, and with Tim Hudson out until August 2009 with an injury, this has not been one for the ages. Braves fans can only hope that Jeff Francoeur will use the last five weeks of the season to straighten out his swing; that McCann can snag another silver slugger award; that Chipper Jones can capture a batting title. There are still positives to strive for here. It is just a shame that some Braves fans have to look at Florida this week and say, “Why not us!?”
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