Center Field Gate

Having finally returned to Peachtree and Sweet Auburn after a west coast swing, and now within striking distance of both the Wild Card (they’re 3.5 back) and the division title (they trail the Phuzzies by 4.5), you might guess that Braves fans would be excited by their team’s chances. Guess again. Despite taking three of four from the Dodgers (and going 5-2 on their recent road trip), Braves’ bloggers (but, most especially Talking Chop) report a distinctive lack of fan confidence in the team. Or perhaps it’s just anxiety about the future: their next stretch features twelve of fifteen games at home (where the Braves are always tough), including two against the surging (well, “red hot“) Nationals and then three against the Phillies. August will be a make-or-break month for the Chops: after facing the Nats and Phillies (and a one game break to play the Showboats), the Braves take on the Mets (in New York) and Marlins. At the end of the month they travel to Philadelphia for three. So this is it for the Atlanta nine: by August 31 they’ll know whether they’ll be playing baseball in October — or teeing off to play 18. 

Atlanta fans are worriers. The Braves seem at the top of their game — two of their knock-downs in L.A. were decided by a Braves’ starting rotation that has finally come together. Tough-as-nails Javier Vazquez might be the best reflection of the way the Braves play. He’s gritty, low key and plays better when the pressure’s on. While the world ooohs and aaahs over Tommy Hanson (and for good reason, methinks), Vazquez has become the workhorse of the Atlanta rotation, posting a 10-7 record and a snappy 2.90 ERA. Vazquez eats innings — he’s notched over 200 innings per season in seven of his twelve years in the majors. Vazquez pitched a gem against the Trolleys on Sunday, going eight innings while giving up only five hits. The knock against Vazquez is that he’s good until the end of the fifth or sixth — but can’t close out opponents who see him the third time through the line-up. But Vazquez has all but erased that rap this year: he’s walked only 32 (32!) in 155 innings and surrendered 129 hits. He’s second in the N.L. in strikeouts with 171.

Vazquez has always been underrated and underappreciated: he was trade bait in Montreal (where he was swapped to the Yanks for Nick Johnson), then in New York (he was swapped for Randy Johnson), then in Arizona (he was swapped for Orlando Hernandez, Luis Vizcaino and Chris Young — who’s now back in triple-A) and then in Chicago (where he was sent packing — get this — in exchange for Brent Lillbridge and three minor leaguers). He may have finally found a permanent home in Atlanta.

Don’t get me wrong: Vazquez is only one of the reasons Atlanta has a shot in the east. Atlanta G.M. Frank Wren has spent the last month snapping off surprise deals: getting Nate McLouth from Pittsburgh to cover the yawning gap in center, acquiring Ryan Church for the overexposed and dissatisfied Jeff Francoeur and bringing Adam LaRoche back to Turner Field for Casey Kotchman. In three swift moves, Wren said ”not yet” to “can’t miss” centerfield prospect Jordan Schafer (.204 in 50 games), rid the team of a complainer, and shipped out an unpopular player — all while filling three desperate needs with better-than-average talent. And he’s done this all while bringing in a free-be in rookie pitcher Tommy Hanson who, at 6-6/220 looks like his release point is about halfway to home. 

So Atlanta fans are anxious? Well, ain’t we all. But after their recent 5-2 road trip — and a starting staff that matches up well against the Phillies (even with Cliff Lee) – the Braves are poised to give the Phuzzies a run for the NL East flag. Two months ago no one would have given a nickel for their chances; now no one’ll bet against em. The good news for the Nats is that they won’t have to face the up-and-in Vazquez in the Battle of Atlanta. The bad news is that they’ll be facing Tommy Hanson instead. The Nationals Nine will attempt to extend their eight game winning streak when they send John Lannan to the mound against the Braves at Turner Field tomorrow night.