Astrode to Glory

Tonight, many fates will be decided or prolonged on the results of four baseball games.  In the American League East, a Red Sox collapse that would be joyous if not for the Atlanta parallels comes to a head, with Boston riding cancer-fighting Jon Lester into battle against the Baltimore Orioles and possible murderer Alfredo Simon.  Meanwhile, the Devil Rays, behind ace-2 David Price, battle the New York Yankees.  The Yankees, in the interest of playoff self-preservation and possibly hilarious spite for their hated rivals, will start someone named Dellin Betances.

In more pertinent Georgia news, the Braves will take on the Philadelphia Phillies, who have also made the playoff-savvy move of pulling Cole Hamels in favor of innings-overeater Joe Blanton.  Blanton will do battle with Braves ace Tim Hudson.  All these games begin at 7:00 Eastern Time; at 8:00, the Cardinals will throw ace Chris Carpenter against former Philly Brett Myers and the Houston Astros.  Assuming the early games remain close, the following two-three hours will be a gut-wrenching span for any baseball fan with a dog in the fight.

The Braves may or may not win.  We will be relying on the performance of a past rival (the Clemens-era Astros were an NLDS scourge to Atlantans), and possibly the benevolence of a permanent rival (the Phillies, who have the option of resting more players for a deep playoff run or letting loose the dogs, to eviscerate a wounded foe).  The Braves have fallen far, and no longer truly control their own fate.  A win guarantees at least a season extension, but a one-game playoff with the red-hot Cards is itself almost a death sentence.  Make no mistake, this team is weary and rattled  It needs a win, coupled with a Cardinal loss, to give them any chance of some gracious releif and positive playoff vibes. 

We then turn humbled to the field of Enron, the house of Baggio and Bagwell, of Berkman and Bell.  The spirits of Darryl Kile and Jose Lima, we beseech thee.  Persist, ye Killer Bs.  Don't stop the Chop.