The Braves are into their toughest stretch of the season with thirteen consecutive games against the Red Sox, Yankees, Phillies, and one makeup game against the Cubs. The Braves began this stretch with rousing game one win in Boston when Kenshin Kawakami outdueled the corpse of countryman Daisuke Matsuzaka. The Braves had no answer for Josh Beckett in game two, losing 3-0. Then the team lost in walk-off fashion when Nick Green (yes, Nick Green) went opposite field on Jeff Bennett’s first offering in the ninth. Once again the Braves failed to make any charge through a soft part in the schedule in early June, and they are now in danger of not having any realistic chance at the post season for a fourth consecutive season.

Once again the culprit is inconsistent offense, brain cramps, and curious managerial decisions. The Braves have scored 5 or more runs in consecutive games only two times this month. They won all four of those games. The benching of Yunel Escobar for his lackadaisical play was discussed to death last week, but the rest of the team has been unable or unwilling to play smart situational baseball on a regular basis. Bobby Cox also has to be called on the carpet for his decision to pitch Jeff Bennett in the ninth yesterday. Despite his good-on-paper ERA, Bennett has had a WHIP near 2.000 for the whole season. In the bottom of the ninth in a tie game, you can’t put a guy out there who allows lots of baserunners. Also, Cox started Gregor Blanco over Jeff Francoeur in Fenway Park. Despite Francoeur’s struggles, he’s a better fit for Fenway than .067 slap hitting Blanco.

I am about to give up on this team for the second year in a row. If things don’t improve soon the Braves will become sellers at the trade deadline, Hudson’s return won’t matter, and I won’t have to worry about Braves playoff games conflicting with college football weekends…again.