Record
NL EAST W L PCT GB HOME ROAD RS RA NY Mets 60 41 .594 ---- 30-21 30-20 539 462 Atlanta 48 53 .475 12.0 22-25 26-28 536 513 Florida 47 53 .470 12.5 25-24 22-29 463 468 Philadelphia 46 53 .465 13.0 24-29 22-24 491 521 Washington 46 56 .451 14.5 26-24 20-32 473 523 W L RS RA W1 L1 W2 L2 W3 L3 48 53 536 513 52.7 48.3 49.7 51.3 49.6 51.4W1 and L1 are the expected wins and losses based on runs scored and runs allowed.
W2 and L2 are the expected wins and losses based on BP's equivalence runs scored and allowed.
W3 and L3 are similar to W2 and L2 but adjusted for strength of schedule.
Starting Rotation
W L ERA IP H/9 SO/9 BB/9 HR/9 VORP
John Smoltz 8 5 3.55 147.0 8.57 8.08 2.02 1.04 40.2
Tim Hudson* 8 8 4.87 136.2 9.75 5.60 3.29 0.86 11.4
Horacio Ramirez* 5 3 4.04 62.1 10.40 4.19 2.89 0.58 10.8
Chuck James* 4 1 3.53 43.1 7.48 6.02 2.91 1.87 11.5
Jason Shiell 0 2 7.00 9.0 10.00 8.00 4.00 2.00 (-0.9)
* asterisks denote probable starters vs Mets
() parentheses denote negative numbers
italics denote left-handed pitchers
The Braves have struggled to get consistent starting pitching all year. John Smoltz has been a workhorse, but they haven't gotten much out of anyone else. Tim Hudson's ERA is approaching 5, and he's walking more batters than usual. Horacio Ramirez is left-handed, so he has that going for him. The Braves are excited about Chuck James, who has pitched well to this point and is second in the rotation in VORP despite pitching just 43.1 innings.
WPA Top Two
John Smoltz, 184.8% WPA
Horacio Ramirez, 124.3% WPA
WPA Bottom Two
Jorge Sosa, -176.0% WPA
John Thomson, -78.7% WPA
Starting Lineup
Pos PA AVG OBP SLG SB CS VORP NL Rank
Brian Mccann* C 278 .341 .399 .549 2 0 30.1 2/30
Adam Laroche* 1B 348 .277 .346 .552 0 2 18.8 9/22
Marcus Giles 2B 409 .249 .342 .367 8 4 6.4 17/24
Edgar Renteria SS 423 .322 .400 .476 12 4 37.3 1/19
Chipper Jones# 3B 358 .332 .419 .560 5 1 36.9 3/21
Ryan Langerhans* LF 269 .249 .338 .392 0 2 (-1.6) 22/23
Andruw Jones CF 422 .276 .353 .530 3 1 29.8 2/24
Jeffrey Francoeur RF 437 .263 .286 .456 1 6 (-3.1) 16/19
* asterisks denote left-handed batters
# pound signs denote switch-hitters
rankings are based on VORP for players with at least 100 PA
Edgar Renteria has been reborn now that he has returned to the National League. He is leading NL shortstops in VORP and has an outstanding .400 on-base percentage. Brian Mccann has been terrific as well, and trails only Michael Barrett in VORP among catchers. Chipper Jones has actually been relatively healthy this year, and he's putting up his typical gaudy rate stats. Forgiving the fact that he has played for the Braves all of these years, Jones has perhaps been one of the most under-appreciated hitters of the past decade or so. Andruw Jones is doing his best to prove that last year wasn't a fluke, as he trails only a certain Carlos Beltran in VORP among centerfielders.
Marcus Giles isn't hitting for any power, but he has drawn enough walks to make his on-base percentage somewhat respectable. Still, a disappointing season for him to be sure. Jeff Francoeur is the outfielder equivalent of Tony Batista, and unless he improves his approach at the plate you might see him in the Japanese leagues before too long. Adam Laroche has had a nice year for himself, getting on base at a decent clip and socking many more homeruns than I would have expected of him. In fact, his VORP is higher than that of Carlos Delgado.
Even with Jones in center, the Braves have one of the least productive outfields in the league. The make up for it by having a terrific left-side of the infield.
WPA Top Two
Andruw Jones, 204.1% WPA
Edgar Renteria, 173.5% WPA
WPA Bottom Two
Matt Diaz, -112.2% WPA
Ryan Langerhans, -99.6% WPA
Bullpen
ERA IP H/9 SO/9 BB/9 HR/9 VORP
Bob Wickman 0.00 3.0 3.00 6.00 0.00 0.00 2.1
Jorge Sosa 5.59 85.1 10.86 5.80 3.27 2.11 (-3.2)
Ken Ray 3.26 47.0 7.09 7.09 4.21 1.15 15.2
Oscar Villarreal 4.26 50.2 10.30 4.80 3.38 1.60 7.6
Macay McBride 4.55 31.2 7.96 5.68 6.82 0.28 3.7
Chad Paronto 2.84 31.2 7.96 8.24 3.69 0.57 11.7
Tyler Yates 3.22 22.1 7.66 7.66 5.64 0.81 6.3
Ken Ray and Chad Paronto have been quite good, and even former Met Tyler Yates has been decent despite walking almost six batters per nine innings (!). Not pictured: Chris Reitsma and his 8.68 ERA in 28 innings, Peter Moylan and his 7.04 ERA in 7.2 innings, Lance Cormier and his 6.12 ERA in 32.1 innings, and Kevin Barry and his 5.91 ERA in 10.2 innings.
WPA Top Two
Macay McBride, 34.5% WPA
Lance Cormier, 32.5% WPA
WPA Bottom Two
Mike Remlinger, -145.1% WPA
Jorge Sosa, -136.6% WPA
Bench
Pos PA AVG OBP SLG SB CS VORP
Todd Pratt C 116 .212 .261 .317 1 0 (-5.3)
Scott Thorman* 1B 72 .246 .278 .493 0 0 0.4
Pete Orr* IF 87 .205 .224 .301 2 2 (-6.4)
Wilson Betemit# IF 218 .281 .341 .497 2 1 11.4
Matt Diaz OF 165 .314 .344 .438 3 2 4.7
Wilson Betemit and Matt Diaz have acquitted themselves quite well. Betemit has filled in at a variety of positions, and Mets fans will remember him as the guy who hit the would-be game-winning homerun off of Billy Wagner earlier in the season before Cliff Floyd went yard later that inning to tie things up.
Manager
Bobby Cox has been the Braves' manager since forever.
# Times NL Rank
Pinch Hit 175 2/16
Stolen Base Attempts 64 11/16
Sacrifice Bunts 44 9/16
Key Injuries
Brian Jordan John Thomson Kyle Davies Phil StockmanPayroll
Team Payroll MLB Rank $92,461,852 8/30