Braves charging late in National League Wild Card race

September 29, 9:13 AMMLB ExaminerAlex Brown

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AP Photo/Kathy Willens

The Rockies may eventually reach the playoffs, but nobody else in the National League is going to make it easy on them.  First, the San Francisco Giants went back and forth with the upstart Rockies, and now the Atlanta Braves are charging late and looking to knock the Rockies off the top of the National League Wild Card spot. 

Atlanta has been white hot as of late, winning their last seven games in a row.  They’re now four games behind the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East, and two behind the Rockies for the Wild Card.  With only six games left in the regular season, it will be extremely difficult for Atlanta to get in – but don’t tell veteran third baseman Chipper Jones.

“This is the feeling we had back in the ‘90s.  We’re expecting to win every time we go out there.”

You can’t blame Jones if he’s feeling a bit nostalgic.  The 2009 Braves are getting it done with the help of some excellent starting pitching, much like the 1990s Braves teams.  Here’s a look at how good the Braves starters have been:

• Javier Vazquez: 15-9, 2.83 ERA
• Jair Jurrjens: 14-10, 2.61 ERA
• Tommy Hanson: 11-4, 2.98 ERA
• Derek Lowe: 15-9, 4.55 ERA
   

The Braves rotation is led by Javier Vazquez,  a perennial underachiever who was acquired from the White Sox last winter.  Jurrjens has made huge strides in 2009 to become a more durable starting pitcher, and Hanson has been dominant since joining the team in May as a rookie.  Kenshin Kawakami, a free agent who joined the team from Japan this past offseason, has also been solid for Atlanta with seven wins and a 3.92 ERA.

While the names Maddux, Smoltz, and Glavine have moved on, the Braves philosophy remains – good starting pitching wins ballgames.  Whether or not the Braves are able to make the postseason this year, I’m positive that they will be much improved in 2010.  That would be a fitting end for the man who has been responsible for cultivating the winning atmosphere in Atlanta – manager Bobby Cox, who is set to retire after the 2010 season.