In the past few years, there’s been two teams that the Braves should be readily able to beat, but somehow always seemingly find a way to lose. When these two teams, the Reds, and the last place Nationals, play the Braves, the game no longer becomes enjoyable. It becomes frustrating, aggravating, and all the things that a baseball game shouldn’t constantly be. Sunday afternoon’s game was one of those games, and the Braves subsequently lowered their record against the Nationals to 4-6. During a time where it seems like every single other team in the division is winning, the future is beginning to look a little bleak.

ESPN - Nationals vs. Braves - Box Score - July 20, 2008

Seriously, he doesn’t deserve all the blame.

Just more than anyone else.

Well, all good things must come to an end, right? The Braves snapped their 3-game winning streak with a loss on Saturday night against the Nationals. This came as a result of the pitching staff’s poor performance and the failure on part of the offense to get more than a few runs to cross the plate. The outcome is a series that is tied at one game each.

ESPN - Nationals vs. Braves - Box Score - July 19, 2008

Chalk up another win to the board, the Braves have won three straight with their victory over the Nationals on Friday night. That may not seem like much of an accomplishment, but the last time it happened was a little under two months ago. Even more rare, although it’s probably just coincidence, but they actually won a one-run game. Perhaps this is a sign of things to come? I friggin’ hope so.

After all, it’s not like you can expect a ENORMOUS BABY to hit major league pitching.

ESPN - Nationals vs. Braves - Box Score - July 18, 2008

In case you’d forgotten… Jeff Francoeur is a big whiny baby.

Ha! Nobody thought they’d be able to do it, but for the first time in more than 2 weeks, the Braves have put together a winning streak with their win over San Diego on Sunday night. This puts them at 45-50 entering the break, and now 6.5 out of first. If this offense can stay consistent, this team might have a real shot.

Hampton tweaks groin in rehab start | ajc.com

Braves come up with a series win in a very big way. They scored four runs last night and twelve today, with the Pads only scoring a total of five runs in the last two games (eight for the entire series). If we stay hot like that offensively and can get everyone healthy for the second half, we would be in good shape. Too bad I’m not counting on us playing that well the rest of the season. I hope we do, but I won’t hold my breath. Everyone is going to go through some slumps now and then and have bad games, that’s just how it is. Chipper and Mac will probably be out and about in New York tomorrow with the All-Star festivities starting. While I won’t be here to provide coverage for it, I’m sure Lauren of Braves Love will be on top of it like she currently is on most of the goings-on in the Braves world. I hope to hear (and see) good things about the two Braves’ sluggers when I return on Saturday, or hopefully before then if I’m able to get Internet access any this week. I wish Brian and Chipper both good luck in Tuesday’s All-Star game.

ESPN - Braves vs. Padres - Box Score - July 13, 2008

Well, the predictions we made for this game were wrong. Really wrong. We expected the Braves to get shut down by Maddux, like the second coming of Cy Young. That didn’t happen, and the Braves were able to even the series up at 1 game apiece.