Braves' retired manager Bobby Cox, who is going into baseball's Hall of Fame this year, left the Braves at the right time. The pitching staff is one of the weakest in Brave history, (except for Kimbrel, who is one of, if not the best, saver in MLB). Braves hitting is very unreliable, and always seems to have physical problems. There are certainly no All Star starting pitchers on the current Brave roster. Its no secret that the Braves, particularly since Cox left, has a manager who just does not have what it takes, to be one of MLB's leading managers. The Braves also seem to be a divided team, meaning they are like two teams in one. Everyone is not on the same page, and the days of the Braves being a very close team, now seem to be divided, with two groups who simply are not on the same page. You can see the same two "clicks" of players, clinging closest together, and simply do not have a great affection or respect for each other.
Garcia was hand picked by Cox to be the current manager, and Bobby Cox, as no doubt a very passionate manager, who holds the record for getting kicked out of games more than any other manager in recent years. But Cox did not have the real respect of his players he managed, right before he decided to retire. But Cox got his sway, and now the Braves are paying for being a team lacking a manager who has no real respect for their new manager Garcia. Its as if Cox wanted someone to replace him, who could not handle the job. Garcia has made some glaring errors, and in close games always seems to make the wrong moves. Most fans don't realize when Bobby Cox retired, (NOT FIRED) left the scene, taking with him, many integral parts of the Braves' coacing staff and many in the front office. From the scouts to the many baseball minds that were very helpful to Cox and the Brave team that Cox managed, left with him. Some of these unknown disciples of Cox, that had been with Cox since he first managed the Braves, left when Cox did. Garcia was not the type of manager that many felt the Braves needed to keep the Braves a solid contender, and when the general leaves, any officers leave with him, leaving the Braves with simply too many important parts missing from keeping the Braves a contender, like they would be if Cox was still there with his loyal army of assistants and scouts all in place, helping Bobby Cox maintain the Braves' way of remaining a contender. Without Cox as manager, the Braves are not the same.
Since the All Star game, the Padres, who have a very respectable pitching staff, more particularly in the bull pen, when grabbing a early lead in any game, can be a low ranked team that can beat anybody in a low scoring game. The Padres have already taken one game from the Braves in this weekend series, and today I think will handle the Braves in another low scoring game. The Braves starting pitching for today, Minor, is certainly no world beater, and should never be a big favorite over any team. Today looks like the table is set for the Padres to steal one more before they leave Atlanta.
My Sunday selection is the SAN DIEGO PADRES +165