AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2006 > July > 17
Monday, July 17, 2006
Hot teams, temps in St. Louis
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Maybe it’s appropriate that the two hottest teams in the National League will clash in blast-furnace conditions the next three days. Appropriate or not, however, I’d much prefer getting on a plane and taking the Braves and Cardinals back out to San Diego to do this thing. But I don’t think that’s going to be possible. So we’ll endure.
From paradise to this — welcome to St. Louis, where it’s supposed to reach 100 degrees for the next three days, with the heat index an ungodly 110-115. If we don’t collapse, it should be a great series.
The Braves and Cardinals have the longest two active winning streaks in the NL — Braves five in a row, Cards seven in a row — and also have the best 10-game records. Each is 8-2 in the past 10.
Not only that, it’s also a clash of the hottest-hitting team in the majors and the team that’s pitching the best of late. Something’s gotta, give, as they say.
Braves hitters are as hot in July as, well, July. (Hey, I’m exhausted, so cut me some slack. Haven’t slept in a bed since Saturday night, after taking red-eye flight from San Diego through Atlanta to St. Louis).
They can’t keep this up, obviously. But enjoy it while it lasts, because Chipper and the boys are putting on a show. The Braves lead the majors in every major offensive category this month, including average (.341), homers (27), runs (98), OBP (.498) and slugging (.598). In a word, overwhelming.
They’re 9-3 this month, the league’s best record, despite a 5.03 ERA that’s right in the middle of the NL rankings for the month. They’ve already totaled more runs and homers this month than they did in all of June. The hitting can’t continue at this torrid pace all month (can it?) but the pitching can certainly improve.
The Cardinals have been getting huge offense from Albert Pujols, but mostly they’ve been getting lights-out pitching — a 2.34 ERA during their seven-game winning streak, and a 1.29 ERA (yes, 1.29) during their four-game sweep of the Dodgers that ended Sunday. They just destroyed L.A., outscoring Los Dodgers 21-6 in four games in sweltering conditions at Busch.
It’s supposed to be even hotter this week. If John Thomson were pitching, he might melt. But he’s not. Horacio and Hudson in the first two games against Angels reject Jeff Weaver (makes his first start tonight since traded to Cards) and ex-Brave Jason Marquis. Then either Schiell(or however it’s spelled; I’m too tired to look it up) or Cormier for the Braves against Cards ace Chris Carpenter.
Considering the matchups, the Braves need to win the first two to take this series. But any combination of four wins in this series and the four-gamer to follow at Philly would give the Braves a 7-3 trip after their sweep of the West-leading Padres. A 7-3 trip after a 7-3 homestand … trend?
Given what Weaver did with Angels (3-10, 6.29) and what Marquis has done against Braves (0-1, 10.80 in two starts against his old team), you might like the Braves chances in these first two games.
And as for Chipper’s extra-base hit streak … well, if he can get the record tonight with an extra-base hit for his 15th consecutive game, there’s a good chance he’ll extend it to 16 tomorrow: He’s 2-for-3 with two homers against Marquis, and Andruw Jones is 3-for-6 with three homers against him.
OK, gotta file this and get over to new, sweaty Busch…. Uh, to new Busch Stadium.
