re: Braves Magic Number Thread

Insert Klesko picture here

Phillies lost again...

Did you guys know that Al Borland used to play and coach for the Braves?

For my own amusement, the magic # over the Nationals is:

Up 5 games on the Phillies with 18 left to play......

By the time we play tonight, Philly will be wrapping up their 2nd game of a double header. If they split, we'll still be up 5, but will also have 5 games in the loss column. Right now we only have 4 games in the loss column.

I have a gut feeling that if we win tonight and they lose 1 game, then the race will probably be over. That would put the magic number at 13 which is 7+6, 6+7, 5+8, etc. All should be pretty realistically attainable barring an epic collapse or just a ridiculous run by Philly.

And no, I don't believe in jinx threads. That's why I started this magic number count in the 40s. People ridiculed me and then panicked when the Braves got swept by some team. Meanwhile, the number keeps going down down down.

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I have a gut feeling that if we win tonight and they lose 1 game, then the race will probably be over. That would put the magic number at 13 which is 7+6, 6+7, 5+8, etc. All should be pretty realistically attainable barring an epic collapse or just a ridiculous run by Philly.

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Definitely attainable. I thought I heard a stat that Philly hasn't won a series since July?

Gotta love the Phillies...





















Oh yeah....and this guy...

Mark Wohlers was as sure of a relief pitcher as the Braves had until the 1996 World Series when he gave up a 3 run HR and was never the same. I remember him throwing over guys heads, in the dirt, behind guys. Complete 180 from the young gun slinger.

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After spending the following three seasons as a setup pitcher, Wohlers was given the job as a closer in 1995. He went on to record 97 saves over the next three seasons, also saving the 1–0 victory in the clinching Game 6 of the 1995 World Series, establishing himself as one of the best closers in the majors. Wohlers' success would not last forever. In Game 4 of the 1996 World Series against the New York Yankees, Wohlers gave up a stunning 3-run home run to Jim Leyritz that tied the game at 6. After this, the momentum of the Series shifted and the Yankees won it in six games. Many observe that Wohlers was never the same after that. In 1998, he seemed to lose all ability to control his pitches. He spent part of the season at Triple-A Richmond, but still finished the season with a major league earned run average of 10.18. His control problems were dramatic. In 20? major league innings, Wohlers walked 33 batters. After being sent down to Triple-A, Wohlers walked 36 batters in only 12? innings. His symptoms were a prime example of what is commonly known as Steve Blass disease – a psychological block which manifests itself when baseball players overthink the act of throwing a baseball and consequently become unable to throw with any sort of control. The Associated Press called him "the 1990s poster child for Steve Blass Syndrome."[2]

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Up 6.5 games on the Phillies with 17 left to play.

The Phillies have 18 games left.

Braves are really close to clinching and have a great chance at the #2 seed in the NL.