So until baseball is on at the weird West Coast time of 4:05pm we flip channels. My wife pauses on some reality show long enough for us to mindlessly try to pick up on the "story".

It's purgatory.

Two and a half hours to first pitch and the last game and series before the Break. For the second time this week we get a rubber game and I'm hoping this one goes our way.

As this series closes out, I wonder what will come of the Braves by the trade deadline. We're 6.5 games out at game start and best case scenario we could be 5.5 or with a loss 7.5. It's not insurmountable but it's such a grey area in terms of what kind of direction to take the team.

The thing is, the Braves haven't had a throwaway season in a very long time. I don't even know what a "rebuilding" year would look like. And to be honest, I don't think we'll make anything but attempts at improvement at the deadline.

Call me optimistic or maybe I just think I know Braves management enough to see them as competitors and not rebuilders when we have the kind of talent (though underachieving or injured) that we do. And 5.5 at best or 7.5 at worst doesn't take us completely out of contention. The question is, is this the kind of team that can pull it off? So far, that team hasn't shown up.

Last Night

Morton gave up only one earned run and got a win.

Frenchy got 3 hits one of them with the bases loaded if you can believe that.

Lillibridge hit his first homer and Chipper had one of the lovely 3 hit nights. I guess the slump is over.

Campillo (3-4) takes the mound tonight and though he's gotten knocked around lately, he hasn't been all that bad.

Whaddya say we end this half with a series win? Perhaps even an inspired, encouraging win that gets us 5.5 back and closing in.

I'm going to wait a little while longer before I abandon postseason hopes. Maybe I'm delaying for myself acceptance of the inevitable, but I'm gonna tough it out a little longer.

So...

What moves are you expecting to see made? Do you think Ohman and Teixeira are on their way before the season closes in?

Are you ready to admit defeat and go into rebuilding mode? If so, who are you hoping to pick up as we get ready for next year?

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