how much longer??

Combining their 2 worst stats. I heard this morning that they are 0-16 in their last one run games on the road. How is that possible? The Braves seem to not put up runs in a couple of games  and then put up a big number, making the stats look a little better. Need some more consistency.

I was watching the Basketball playoffs and Kenny Smith said that in blowout games, the team is responsible but in games decided by 3 points or less, the head coach is to blame. I found that opinion very interesting and I wonder if that also translates to BB as well. If a team is 0-16 in one run games, should the manager be held responsible? Personally I'm not sure about this. I've always thought that of all the major sports that the BB manager has the least impact in the games outcome. Not no impact but the least when compared to other sports. I think when you also factor in how the Braves pen has sustained one injury after the other, it starts to make sense as to why one run games are so hard to pull out.

When Smoltz returns and anchors the pen once again, I think you'll be winning more one run games than losing them.

Of course being a Mets fan I hope you continue to lose them!!

ITS NOT BOBBY'S FAULT WE HAVE NO CLUTCH PLAYERS.

our guys are great hitters when we are up a few runs but in a tight game we can't get the clutch hits. that is why the stats tell us we are better than our record. we will beat a team 14-0 everyone will get four hits and then the next two games we score 2 runs. we still have great averages but we are 1-2 over that stretch.

I tend to agree with cuse on this one. Here are some stats to back it up. Braves lead NL with both .284 BA & 3.54 ERA. With RISP Avg. falls to .250. In late innings of close games  BA falls to .211 and ERA swells to 5.09. I hope the law of averages will balance this up over the course of the season. I am sure with 3/4 of the season to go we won't finish 4-44 in 1 run games.

I don't think our players are chokers.  I think this is a statistical fluke that will balance out with us winning our share of close games.

Exactly.  when you build your team to play for the 3 run homer, then what you get is a team that scores 8 or 10 runs once every week when you catch a pitcher (or two) who's having a bad day and then you struggle to score the rest of the week.

I don't see that changing anytime soon.

The stats thing is easy - We lose all of the close games and then have a couple of blowouts every week.  That will make the numbers look really good.  I think the biggest issue is the bullpen.  I think the injuries to our bullpen are really killing us.  When Gonzalez, Soriano, and now Smoltz are healthy, the game will be over if we have the lead after 6 innings.  Moylan has been solid as well, but he is injured now too.  If we were just .500 in one-run games, we would be leading the division.  The bull-pen has a ton to do with that.

Having said all that, injuries are a part of the game and we have to be able to make adjustments.