(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Today's game versus the Nats is one that just makes you sick to your stomach.
Seven innings of one-run ball from your starter, a solid performance from your offense, and your normally shut-down eighth and ninth inning guys are coming in to finish the job.
Just the recipe that had won the Braves five straight before today.
Accredit it to arm fatigue, lack of focus, the Nationals' offense, or whatever you want. It's still a heartbreaker to blow a lead late, especially when your team's 30-1 (I believe that's right), when leading after seven.
Personally, I say it falls on the fact that Moylan, Gonzalez, and Soriano (although he did not pitch today) have all worked for three and four consecutive games.
I don't care how effective they've been, all are less than two years removed from major surgeries and, although they need to be stretched out in order to be effective later in the season, they HAVE to be given a day off every once in a while.
Last night should've been the indicator for Cox and friends when Moylan and Soriano each got, to an extent, roughed up.
Granted, Gonzo struck out the side, but none of these guy's should've gone today.
Yes, they're one of the best trios you'll find in baseball, but Medlen, Logan (pitched July 3rd), and Acosta are all competent enough to hold a two-run lead. I don't think they should be relegated to pure mop-up roles.
A better balance is needed. Period.
Some of you are going to say "That's why the [maternal inter-courser] needs to get fired," to which I say, "chill."
Bobby Cox didn't get to where he is because he's an idiot.
This probably was an experiment to check their effectiveness, but I just don't think a game of this magnitude (I consider it a pretty big deal when you're trying to get to .500 in a tight division) should be the place.
No one knows what would've happened, but I think that if Acosta and Logan are pitching the eighth, I'd be writing about the Braves' sixth straight win right now.
Tomorrow's game has just become a big deal.
The Braves NEED to win in spectacular fashion in order to start a swell of momentum against the hot Cubs and Rockies.
The difference between being one and two games under .500 is huge when you have seven games against two upper-echelon teams on the road.
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