Who's going to capture the NL East

[Guest Edgy DC]

Both teams have muscled up for the stretch. The Braves have Heyward coming on strong. The Phils have guys coming back from injuries. The Braves are playing for Bobby Cox's last hurrah. The Phils have played hot September ball before.

Umm, the Phils have six games left with the Mets. The Braves have three.

[Ceetar]

Edgy DC wrote: Both teams have muscled up for the stretch. The Braves have Heyward coming on strong. The Phils have guys coming back from injuries. The Braves are playing for Bobby Cox's last hurrah. The Phils have played hot September ball before. Umm, the Phils have six games left with the Mets. The Braves have three.

I think the Phillies are pushing too hard too soon. I expect them to fizzle, of course, the WC may make it all redundant.

[Gwreck]

What, no "Mets" option?

Hard to believe I would actually ever prefer the Braves (save those evil Braves/Yankees WS matchups) but it's come to this.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I want it to be the Braves, but I think it will be the Phillies.

I know we're supposed to hate the Braves more, but I've never felt that way. And because of where I live, I find the Phillies a lot more annoying.


And to Ceetar's point, I agree that both teams are likely to make the playoffs anyway.

[HahnSolo]

Phils tend to pull these races out.

[Willets Point]

This year's playoffs could be our worst nightmare: Phillies versus Braves in the NLCS and the Yankees versus a team that rolls over and plays dead at the sight of pinstripes (a.k.a. the Twins or Rangers) in the ALCS.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I am rooting HARD for the Giants. That's my answer.

[DocTee]

What LWFS said.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I went with the Phils, dangerous if sumpy offense and a couple great pitchers, plus they catch the ball.

Cholly seems to be able to get them to do what's gotta be done.

And as long as the Mets are out of it, I don;t have strong rooting interests beyond a humiliating finish for the MFYs and good games otherwise.

[MFS62]

Its a lot easier to root for the Braves without Chipper (and SF without Bonds and Baker).

But I'd still prefer the Padres to win the NL West.

Later

[Centerfield]

Write me in for "Who Fucking Cares".

[Vic Sage]

write me in for "rooting for injuries".

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

I never really disliked the Braves, but I can't say the same for the Phillies. I'll be pulling for the Braves to win the NL East.

Overall, I guess I'd like to see the Padres and Twins in the post-season. Of course, I'll be pulling hard for whatever team is matched up against the evil pinstriped minions of Satan.

[metirish]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: And as long as the Mets are out of it, I don;t have strong rooting interests beyond a humiliating finish for the MFYs and good games otherwise.

This is me...because Edgy asked I will say the Braves though, they are less annoying than the Phillies and truth be told I don't have a strong dislike for the Braves. They year in year out seem to develop major league players and always make that trade for a run, they're a solid club.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Well, to be clear, I'm asking who's going to capture it, rather than who you would have capture it.

Amazing to watch the Padres tanking the way they are, though.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I think the Braves take it down.

But if I were a potential playoff opponent, I would rather face them than the Phils. (The 1-2 rotation punch and defense being the tiebreakers.)

[Zvon]

This is a tough one.
I respect the Phils.
The Braves making a run in Cox's final year is a great story.
Both teams have what it takes.

I know more about the Phils, their make up, their depth.
I'll say the Phillies will take the N.L.East.

[G-Fafif]

No Bobby Cox-managed team has ever lost a pennant race down the stretch. 1985 Jays, Braves in 1991, 1992, 1993. Weren't really challenged severely from '95 through '05, but they withstood all comers. Perhaps I'm buying a bit much into the Win One for Bobby thing, but I don't see them letting down. I decided in March that this would be the year for Phillie comeuppance and I'll stick with that.

[Frayed Knot]

To me, the Phils, with all that pitching and their lineup now healthy at the same time, are the better bet to outlast the Braves who have to rely on the likes of Infante & Prado to not wake up and realize that they're not this good,. And Heyward's had his slumps. And Chipper's out for the season. And Lowe is shaky as is Tommy Hanson.

And if the Phils (with Madson pitching the 9th) can get three more outs they'll have the half-game lead.
Braves have been in 1st every day of June, July, August, and the first week of September.

Now two outs .... now one.

[Ceetar]

Frayed Knot wrote: To me, the Phils, with all that pitching and their lineup now healthy at the same time, are the better bet to outlast the Braves who have to rely on the likes of Infante & Prado to not wake up and realize that they're not this good,. And Heyward's had his slumps. And Chipper's out for the season. And Lowe is shaky as is Tommy Hanson. And if the Phils (with Madson pitching the 9th) can get three more outs they'll have the half-game lead. Braves have been in 1st every day of June, July, August, and the first week of September. Now two outs .... now one.

The Phillies peaked too early. They're due for one of their horrific slumps where they just can't hit, and their bullpen is shaky at best. Hamels is also due for a shaky couple of starts.

[Frayed Knot]

Phils win -- Braves lose
Phillies now with a 2-game lead.

[G-Fafif]

Justin Maxwell does to the Braves this September what he did to the Mets last September: hit a grand slam to beat them.

Grand slam totals since last September:

Justin Maxwell: 2
Mets: 0

Braves 2-1/2 back.

[Frayed Knot]

Justin Maxwell career ABs w/bases loaded = 4
Career Grand Slams = 3

[TransMonk]

I thought this one was going to be a race, but the Phils winning 10 in a row has them 6 up and they now have a magic number of 4 over the Bravos.

Looks like Atlanta has fallen into another race...battling the loser of San Diego and San Francisco for the Wild Card.

[G-Fafif]

When MFPs passed MFBs, John Kruk declared that was that, the MFBs would never retake the lead. I took that as the line of the day as I anticipated a hotly contested back-and-forth. But Kruk was right: The MFPs have not been headed and, with three games against the Mets this weekend, quite obviously won't be.

Only the Nats and Met pride can keep the Mets from being clinched against by Sunday. Oh well, there's always the Nats.