AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2006 > August > 21
Monday, August 21, 2006
A .500 record still possible
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Chipper Jones said that the Braves couldn’t afford a 4-3 road trip. Of course, that’s exactly what happened.
Despite Adam LaRoche’s weird play on Sunday, the Braves are playing better. It’s just not nearly good enough.
If general manager John Schuerholz had signed Bob Wickman last winter, the Braves might have been able to slip back into the postseason for the 15th consecutive time.
But that is more because of the weakness of the National League than any strength of the Braves.
The NL is a mess, which makes the slid of the Braves even harder to take.
If the New York Mets lose Tom Glavine, there isn’t a team in the NL that has a chance in the World Series. The American League, which has two consecutive World Series sweeps, is just that much better.
John Smoltz, who pitches Monday night against Pittsburgh in the opener of the Braves’ nine-game homestand, has said that the Braves goal now should be to get back to .500.
Even that appears to be a tough task. Of course, .500 could possibly mean a playoff spot in the low-rent NL.
