Letting Go of My Brave Hopes for October Baseball

The Braves are sitting at 70-67, 7.5 games behind the red-hot Rockies.

Doing some guesstimations, I figure the Braves need 92 wins (the Rockies have to go 13-11 to get to 91 wins), which would require a 22-2 stretch run.

That, barring some super-divine intervention, isn't happening.

I have always been an optimist when it comes to the Atlanta Braves and wouldn't let go of my postseason hopes until the sweep at the hands of the Reds was complete.

It's obvious that the Braves lost all of the wind out of their sails with one swift swing of Wes Helms's bat on Wednesday night.

It's obvious that everyone is beat up and unable to perform at their optimum ability.

It's also obvious that I'm rambling.

As much as it pains me to accept the reality of another post-less season, I look back on 2009 and see a wealth of positives that almost outweigh this increasingly depressing nosedive Atlanta is taking.

I saw in 2009 that this team's farm can still produce.

With Tommy Hanson, Kris Medlen, and Martin Prado (okay, not a rookie) all making significant contributions to the big-league club and Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman continuing their tear through the minor leagues, the future of this franchise as a whole looks bright.

I also saw some wise front-office moves bud into major contributors.

Just look at Javier Vazquez, Derek Lowe, Kenshin Kawakami, Brooks Conrad, Garret Anderson, Ryan Church, Nate McLouth, and Adam LaRoche.

Where would this team be without those guys?

Yunel Escobar has also gained my respect.

Starting out as a relatively obscure figure in Atlanta's clubhouse, he slowly revealed his struggles adjusting to a new culture as he became a more personable man in addition to his skills at short (just look at the media around him and the increased interaction in the dug-out).

I also had a chance to see where the real problems lay with the lack of winning in the majors.

Like trust issues and undeserved loyalty.

Like Bobby Cox.

He's too good to his players and looks set to walk out of the dugout for the last time following his one-year extension's expiration this season.

(Quick Side Note: Greg Norton was good last year, and relievers can pitch three straight days every now and then)

All in all, this was a good ride for the past six months.

This was one of the more memorable seasons in my four hardcore years of following the Braves.

Next year looks even more promising.

A healthy Schafer, a full year of Hanson, the arrivals of Heyward and Freeman, and most of the current starters coming back.

Here's to accepting the Braves' fate in 2009.

And here's to 2010.