Great win for Braves, but difficult schedule looms large

By Bud L. Ellis
budmansbravesbeat.mlblogs.com

ATLANTA -- Six extra innings of angst and teeth-grinding tension in the books. As we wipe the sleep from our eyes on this sunny Tuesday morning, let us ponder: was it a statement game or one that just delays the inevitable for the Atlanta Braves?

There are a lot of fun things that result in winning an extra-inning contest in walk-off fashion in front of the home fans -- albeit many of those folks hit the Downtown Connector well before David Ross' grounder in the hole chased home Jeff Francoeur with the game-winning run in the 15^th inning late Monday night (or was it early Tuesday morning?).

Regardless of what the clock said at the finish, it's a win the Braves desperately needed to get, after squandering a 5-1 lead in the opener of a four-game series against the struggling Pirates. Oh sure, you've heard about Pittsburgh, Braves Nation. You now employ their former center fielder, the popular and talented Nate McLouth, whose move into the leadoff spot in Bobby Cox's lineup has helped spark Atlanta's moribund offense to 15 runs in the past two games.

These are the types of games, the types of series, the Braves absolutely must win if they hope to stay afloat in a June where the schedule-makers did Atlanta no favors. By now, certainly you've cast an eye at the calendar, which includes three at Cincinnati, three at Boston, a make-up game with the Cubs at home, three in Atlanta against the Yankees, a three-game series at home with Boston, and (whew!) three more at home with Philly.

Yeah, survive that, and the Braves are squarely in the race, figure to make a big move before the July 31 trade deadline (right fielder, anyone?), and look to ride their strong starting pitching and (for the moment) revived offense into the heat of a pennant race.

Or, if they don't survive that, the focus turns to 2010. Simple as that.

Sitting at 28-28 on the season at 5½ games out of first place this morning, the Braves know what's facing them. They know games like Monday, where they're playing a team publicly reeling and questioning their own management (the Pirates lit a candle for McLouth in their locker room the day after the trade ... a bit extreme, don't you think?), are games that have to end on the left side of the ledger.

Still, these are the Braves we're talking about, the Braves of this era, who more often than not rise up and play inspired against the best teams in baseball, and who more often than not stumble against the Nationals and Pirates of the world.

Can't have that happen. Not now. The direction of this season will be determined during the next four weeks. I'm sure Frank Wren knows that as well, which is why the Braves' front office catapulted the franchise through a dizzying journey on the transaction wire last week. Perhaps you've heard: Jordan Schafer got demoted and Tom Glavine got released and Tommy Hanson got promoted and McLouth got acquired.

A vast swath of moves, all designed to jump-start a team that - on paper - should be north of .500. Addressing the fifth starter's spot, addressing the lack of power and speed in the outfield, Wren moved with broad, sweeping strokes.

And now, it's up to the Braves to make it happen on the field. Victories Sunday and Monday, albeit earned in longer and more winding fashion that one would hope, are a good start. But two wins do not a season make. There are more games to be played, tough games, and with 5½ games separating Atlanta from the top of the NL East, there is no time to dawdle.

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