Friday, July 30, 2010
Sports The Series Cynic: Braves can't handle pesky Nats
Posted by Ben Bussard on Fri, Jul 30, 2010 at 11:43 AM
The Braves lost their second consecutive series for the first time in nearly three months this week in Miami and Washington, D.C., respectively.
This abrupt streak of losing—notice the refrain of the term 'losing streak' as the Braves haven't lost three games in a row since June 22-24 against the White Sox—has caught most fans off-guard, but if you take a closer look at the recent performances of two specific players you can see why Atlanta has seen its division lead dwindle to a scant 2.5 games.
(SPOILER ALERT: neither one is Troy Glaus, who has batted .206 with 0 HR and 5 RBI in July)
- Wikimedia
- Like flu-like symptoms, boy Alex Gonzalez ain't nothing to play with
Alex Gonzalez (Not pictured left/that'd be Drake)
3-for-20, 0 XBH, 0 RBI in previous two series
The newest Brave was scratched from Thursday's game against the Nationals due to flu-like symptoms, but the absence of Gonzalez' bat was rather insignificant due to his recent struggles at the plate.
Gonzalez, who was acquired during the All-Star break in exchange for the befuddling Yunel Escobar, leads Atlanta in home runs with 17 but has failed to knock one out of the park since dawning Braves gear over two weeks ago.
Just for comparison's sake: Escobar has batted .354 with 2 HR and 7 RBI since heading north of the border on July 16.
Derek Lowe
0-1, 10.2 IP, 10 H, 6 BB, 8 ER in last two starts
Atlanta's Opening Day starter has been inconsistent all season long, but the Braves still managed to win in spite of Lowe's struggles—going 9-5 over his first 17 starts—early in the season.
That hasn't been the case of late as Atlanta has lost six of Lowe's last seven starts, including both of his starts over the previous two series.
At $15 million, Lowe's price tag may not be earned until October when he can put his postseason experience to use (5-5, 3.33 ERA in 21 postseason appearances).
Until then, why don't the Braves just employ a four-man starting rotation? Kenshin Kawakami could certainly use some company.
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