Addictive wee game

Came across this addictive wee game. I just cannot win, there must be a way!!

Smoltz!!

If you could pick any pitcher to get you a win when you needed it, would you pick anyone other than John Smoltz? He pitches to tie the series with the Astros. He is now the all-time leader with 15 post-season wins and also has most post-season strike-outs. He is the man!

Braves lose opener

So the Braves lost by a score of 10-5 to the Astros to go 1-0 down in the best of 5 series. Are they heading for a fourth consecutive NLDS defeat?

2002 - lost to the Giants
2003 - lost to the Cubs
2004 - lost to the Astros

It is not pretty reading. The Braves used to be known for losing in the WS, now they cannot get past the first round of play-offs. You cannot take it away from the Braves for their regular season record; 14 straight division titles is absolutely awesome and the organisation, from the very top down, deserves tremendous credit for this. However, on the other hand, if we are giving credit for regular season dominance then questions have to be asked about the Post Season record of the Braves. It seems that bats that were previously on fire, go cold. Pitchers that were previously dominant and reliable become erratic and nervous. It is a huge game tonight (Smoltz v Clemens), the Braves really cannot afford to be going to Houston in a 2-0 hole and about to face Oswalt.

Time will tell.

Braves results 2005

This is quite an interesting compilation of the results for the Braves regular season results for 2005 (painstakingly researched by me on MLB.com).

Basically, the team the Braves are playing in the NLDS (and many people's pick as potential WS winners) were the second easiest NL opponent during the year in terms of win/loss record. The pitching rotation of the Astros is reckoned to be the best in the Majors with the 1-2-3 punch of Clemens, Petitte and Oswalt seemingly ideal for a best-of-5 series. However, a closer analysis of the Braves results against the Astros shows that 3 of the 5 victories were earned against these three pitchers; indeed, Oswalt was shelled in a 9-4 loss, giving up 7 earned runs.

It is ironic also that the team which gave the Braves the most problems was the Padres, who only ended up 2 games over .500 but still won a woeful NL West.

14 in a row!!

I checked the internet at the hotel when I was away, the Braves clinched their 14th consectutive pennant - an unbelievable run of success, achieved against all odds this season.

Go Braves!!

The final 8 for the post-season are now known, games start on Tuesday:

National League

Braves host the Astros (Wild Card)
Cardinals host the Padres

American League

Angels host the Yankees
White Sox host the Red Sox (Wild Card)

Back to sunny Scotland

Got back from holiday on Saturday, had a great time. The weather was really pretty good for this time of year, only had rain one day and it pretty much cleared up by the afternoon. First time we have done the "all-inclusive". The food was absolutely excellent, we all ate like hogs for a week. Full cooked breakfast each morning followed by omelette/pasta/chips/pizza etc at lunch time and then an even greater choice at night. Unlimited drinks all day; wine, beer, spirits, soft drinks as well as ice creams for the kids.

There was a sports bar located in the basement which had Sky TV so caught some football a couple of the nights. I also took part in a table tennis tournament, killer pool, killer darts, 3 on 3 basketball and 6 -a-side football. I was in the same team as one of the resident coaches, ex-Rangers player Scott Nisbett; I can remember being at an Old Firm game in 1991 and he was sent off after about 2 minutes as his team was humbled 3-0 - felt I better not mention this to him!