GDT 7/17/22: Braves @ Gnats - Striding into the Break

[Slippyjms]

Acuña DH
Swanson SS
Olson 1B
Riley 3B
Rosario LF
Duvall RF
Contreras C
Cano 2B
Harris CF

Strider P

[WaitingFor2017]

The Braves could put Strider on the "IL" after today's game if they wanted to rest him a bit. His spot would only come up once in the next 15 days if you go with him as the #5 starter after the break. He'd then be ready to come back against the Phillies on August 2.

[thewupk]

No Ozuna is a positive

[CrimsonCowboy]

Really cool by the Braves for what they did for that Make a Wish kid. Very cool

[buck75]

Beware of Strider’s slydah

[msstate7]

Acuna with a ground out. Surprising

[WaitingFor2017]

"Just missed it" -- as it doesn't even get to the edge of the outfield grass.

[thewupk]

Beware of Strider’s slydah

it's so bads

[msstate7]

Taking a 99 right down the middle is strange to me. You know what he's gonna throw for the most part

[msstate7]

When does draft start?

[thewupk]

Bro that change was in the zone. wtf.

[msstate7]

Man, this kid is something

[Ozzie Swanson]

Bro that change was in the zone. wtf.

Well within the zone. The home plate umpiring has been miserable recently.

[GovClintonTyree]

Beware of Strider’s slydah

I thought it was a sloddeh

[CyYoung31]

Get Strider and Riley off the team.

[Hudson2]

Riley’s throw cost those 2 runs. Strider seems like he’ll always be a 5 inning guy.

[Hudson2]

This inning changed in a hurry. That one bad throw.

[CyYoung31]

This inning changed in a hurry. That one bad throw.

And a bad call. Robles ****ing swung.

[CrimsonCowboy]

Well shoot

[CrimeDog247]

Riley’s throw cost those 2 runs. Strider seems like he’ll always be a 5 inning guy.

He will be until his secondary pitches get better, he’s capable though.

[Hudson2]

And a bad call. Robles ****ing swung.

I thought he went around too

[msstate7]

I was stumping for skipping strider this turn all week. Something told me nothing good would come from this start.

[CrimsonCowboy]

As good as Strider is, he’s still a young pitcher. Youngsters have a lot of issues with consistency for the most part. This is something he’s still has to master.

[msstate7]

Ramirez 5.38 FIP entering this game. Come on braves

[WaitingFor2017]

Should be an all hands on deck bullpen game outside of maybe Kenley since you don't want him going two days in a row.

[msstate7]

Ronald, he doesn't wanna hit you. You're basically only dangerous on the bases now

[msstate7]

Another ground ball from Acuna. Dude is basically my little league coach doing infield practice

[CJ9]

Another ground ball from Acuna. Dude is basically my little league coach doing infield practice

I’m really interested to see if the home run derby helps with this problem since he’ll be trying hard to hit the ball in the air.

[WaitingFor2017]

Of course, Dansby and Freddie are on that most consecutive games streak list.

[msstate7]

I wanted no part of a Swanson extension... until I did. I want the guy back

[msstate7]

Camera man, screw you. I thought that was a DP haha

My god, was that 150 EV?

[CrimsonCowboy]

Great camera work on the Olson double, Bally.

<insert eye roll here>

[msstate7]

Gotta get that run, Rosario

[msstate7]

Rather a hit, but good job, Eddie

[CrimsonCowboy]

Productive out.

[msstate7]

Duvall is making a case for full time

[CrimsonCowboy]

I dont know why the Gnats are making a change here. I thought Weems was pitching just fine.

[CyYoung31]

Duvall is making a case for full time

Stop.

[msstate7]

Stop.

Since June 1st...
.246/.306/.596
145 wrc+

He was a full time starter to start the year, so I don't think it's a stretch they do it again. I prefer a Rosario/duvall platoon, but Duvall's numbers make it hard to sit him

[mfree80]

Cano is not good defensively....

[msstate7]

Get the pen up now

[Garmel]

Cano's lack of range and Riley's odd decision on the ground ball to third cost us a run.

[Slippyjms]

Riley not going to 3rd hurt us there

[WaitingFor2017]

Strider should be done since pretty much all of the pen guys can go today.

[Slippyjms]

Riley’s head’s already in LA

[CrimsonCowboy]

Really like the coaching from Wash there

[CyYoung31]

Really like the coaching from Wash there

And Swanson.

[CyYoung31]

Shut up, Acuña.

[WaitingFor2017]

Take the free bag, Ronnie. I don't think Cishek could hurt you at this point in his career.

[CrimsonCowboy]

I’m joining the chorus to get Jordan out of the booth

[CrimsonCowboy]

And Swanson.

Yes. Absolutely

[msstate7]

Split a gap, Olson

[TURBO]

Dont get why Francoeur hasnt been around. Is it his choice?

[CyYoung31]

I’m joining the chorus to get Jordan out of the booth

He seriously thinks Cishek intentionally hit Acuña with a 79 mph breaking ball.

[CyYoung31]

Some brutal balls and strikes calls by the ump today.

[mfree80]

It does seem like every 1st pitch to Acuna is up and in. Probably a strategy.

[CrimsonCowboy]

He seriously thinks Cishek intentionally hit Acuña with a 79 mph breaking ball.

Which is absolutely dumb. For being a former player, Jordan doesn’t seem to know much

[TURBO]

How the hell was that a strike?

[WaitingFor2017]

Wow.

And Strider has had at least a few missed strike calls today.

[zbhargrove]

WTF??! 2 awful calls that at bat

[The Chosen One]

Snit better go out and grt himself ejected after that. That was PURE HORSE****

[Enscheff]

Worst strike call I’ve seen in…since I can remember.

[msstate7]

You gotta fire that guy midinning, mlb

[CrimsonCowboy]

That’s as mad as I’ve seen Olson and for good reason. That was an awful call

[CyYoung31]

Holy ****ing ****, ump.

[Slippyjms]

WTF

[zbhargrove]

That was Leslie Neilson Naked Gun bad

[CrimsonCowboy]

You gotta fire that guy midinning, mlb

If Angel Hernandez and CB Bucknor still have jobs, no way he’s losing his job.

[msstate7]

Snit has to act a fool now. There needs to be a bunch of attention on that call

[chop2chip]

That’s probably the worst called strike I have seen in several years. That was a backup slider that was never even close to the plate.

[Enscheff]

That pitch was literally almost a foot outside, called a strike on a 3-2 count.

That’s a pretty big expected run swing.

[msstate7]

That’s probably the worst called strike I have seen in several years. That was a backup slider that was never even close to the plate.

And that's after strike 1 was bad low

[chop2chip]

Strike one to Olson was also really bad.

[CrimsonCowboy]

MLB umpires make SEC football officials look good

[Enscheff]

That cost the Braves about half a run. Not quite as costly as I thought, but still awful.

I can’t wait for umps to go away.

[msstate7]

Guys, the ump is a friend of mine. We really don't like Olson

[CrimsonCowboy]

1548748454582751243

[chop2chip]

Cishek wasn’t even close to the plate most of that inning. This is what happens when umpires spend too much time rehearsing their strike 3 call in the mirror.

[msstate7]

Dylan lee should be getting will's innings.

[Enscheff]

Lee’s mediocre velocity plays way up due to almost 11” of rise.

[Enscheff]

I actually don’t even see the need for umpires at all. Automated strike zone, and let the players self call all rulings on the field. Any disagreements go to replay in NY. Most calls are so obvious an ump isn’t needed.

[Dunit24]

WTF??! 2 awful calls that at bat

These bums will be without a job hopefully sooner then later. Robo umps will correct clear bias umpiring.

[CyYoung31]

Btw why is Heredia not playing today?

[CyYoung31]

Also, did anyone else hear Moylan getting irritated with Jordan?

[chop2chip]

I actually don’t even see the need for umpires at all. Automated strike zone, and let the players self call all rulings on the field. Any disagreements go to replay in NY. Most calls are so obvious an ump isn’t needed.
Just hire college kids to umpire the base paths.

[msstate7]

Btw why is Heredia not playing today?

He will never play again. Merrifield will be here soon, and heredia will be gone. AA will probably make the royals take him so they can cut him like he did with panda

[WaitingFor2017]

I doubt Carl Edwards Jr. gets much of value in a trade, Chip. Geez.

[chop2chip]

Also, did anyone else hear Moylan getting irritated with Jordan?

He didn’t talk for a solid 6 minutes even after Chip and Byrd kept asking him questions.

[msstate7]

I wish they'd clear the whole tv booth. I'm not a fan of any of them... including frenchy, who most here like

[CyYoung31]

He will never play again. Merrifield will be here soon, and heredia will be gone. AA will probably make the royals take him so they can cut him like he did with panda

You mean Heredia will suddenly feel some hamstring tightness.

[msstate7]

You mean Heredia will suddenly feel some hamstring tightness.

Lol, perhaps

[msstate7]

Cano's defense is a problem

[WaitingFor2017]

Cano's defense.....

[Garmel]

Cano's range is killing us.

[Enscheff]

Cano really is pretty sluggish out there defensively. It’s like he’s running in wet sand.

[msstate7]

Cano's defense.....

He's perfectly aligned, and simply couldn't make a play

[CyYoung31]

I wish they'd clear the whole tv booth. I'm not a fan of any of them... including frenchy, who most here like

I think Frenchy is good. Byrd is solid. Green seems acceptable (he’s only been in the booth, like twice). I honestly think Moylan might be decent if he wasn’t paired with Jordan. I don’t really have a problem with him.

Just remember, everyone is brought down a peg when Chip Caray is your lead announcer.

[chop2chip]

Cano was a fine dice roll but a different solution is needed after the all star break.

[msstate7]

Cano was a fine dice roll but a different solution is needed after the all star break.

Merrifield. He can also be the rh part of cf if needed

[Garmel]

Cano cost us another run.

[CyYoung31]

Do the Nationals have a hit over 80 mph in this game?

[msstate7]

Gonna win 3 of 4, and lose a game in standings. That's Phillies sorta luck

[chop2chip]

I think Frenchy is good. Byrd is solid. Green seems acceptable (he’s only been in the booth, like twice). I honestly think Moylan might be decent if he wasn’t paired with Jordan. I don’t really have a problem with him.

Just remember, everyone is brought down a peg when Chip Caray is your lead announcer.

Brian Jordan constantly lies and makes up stories that obviously never happened.

Moylan is insightful but he’s an unapologetic homer. If he didn’t have an Australian accent he would never be allowed close to the booth.

[jsebe10]

Do the Nationals have a hit over 80 mph in this game?

Doubtful. Laughable part here to me is that Adrianza has 3 RBI

[chop2chip]

Gonna win 3 of 4, and lose a game in standings. That's Phillies sorta luck
Braves will score again off this awful Nats pen.

[WaitingFor2017]

Cano's lack of defense has led to events which have gotten Washington 5 of their 6 runs today. All of it could have been prevented -- though Riley has also cost a team some runs today, too.

[CyYoung31]

Moylan is insightful but he’s an unapologetic homer. If he didn’t have an Australian accent he would never be allowed close to the booth.

Huh?

[msstate7]

Braves will score again off this awful Nats pen.

Maybe so.

[CyYoung31]

Lol. Mets are winning 1-0 against the Cubs. Did y’all see how they got their run? A botched run down by Chicago.

[jsebe10]

Contreras avg is plummeting

[msstate7]

Lol. Mets are winning 1-0 against the Cubs. Did y’all see how they got their run? A botched run down by Chicago.

I'm sure it'll go to extras, and the cubs will blow it somehow

[jsebe10]

Lol. Mets are winning 1-0 against the Cubs. Did y’all see how they got their run? A botched run down by Chicago.

They’ve got the pitching to hide their inept offense. You be been waiting for that rooster to come home to roost. Maybe in October unfortunately.

[CyYoung31]

https://www.saveur.com/uploads/2019/03/18/PJDLHOGNPM2YKPKS3FRXPS2LIE.jpg?auto=webp

[msstate7]

Bell is defensively what I acted like Olson was

[jsebe10]

All right all star super start.

[CyYoung31]

They’ve got the pitching to hide their inept offense. You be been waiting for that rooster to come home to roost. Maybe in October unfortunately.

They’re a good team. They’ll probably win the division if they get reinforcements. They’ve also been riding a giant horseshoe up their ass all season.

[msstate7]

Come on Ronald.

[jsebe10]

Fckn Acuna man

[msstate7]

Acuna as an AS is a joke

[jsebe10]

Dude has zero business in the all star game.

[msstate7]

Acuna cries every time he gets hit. I cry when he doesn't. Our only chance at him being productive is to reach and run the bases

[msstate7]

Come on dansby. Get Matt an AB

[CyYoung31]

Come on dansby. Get Matt an AB

You good?

[msstate7]

You good?

Acuna heads my list now. Matt worked himself off

[msstate7]

Lol, so bad

[CyYoung31]

Wtf?

[jsebe10]

Boy he got ahold of that one.

[mfree80]

Hearing Jordan and Moylen argue in the booth is the best part of this game.

[CyYoung31]

Boy he got ahold of that one.

It looked like he fouled it off his body.

[msstate7]

Braves working on keeping "braves" name.

[jsebe10]

We don’t have another opportunity like that again….

Fckn Acuna…Trying to hit that MFer 560 ft as opposed to unselfishly trying to not do too much. Maybe Freeman leaving was worse on him.

[WaitingFor2017]

Why did Dylan Lee get a 2nd inning when the team has the next 4 days off?

[msstate7]

Come on Tyler

[msstate7]

We don’t have another opportunity like that again….

Fckn Acuna…Trying to hit that MFer 560 ft as opposed to unselfishly trying to not do too much. Maybe Freeman leaving was worse on him.

He's either gonna go on a run for the ages in the 2nd half, or he will pout so hard he becomes insufferable. Wish snit woulda dropped him to 7th today just to see how he reacted

[buck75]

So it seems Cano might become a part-time DH the way he plays second base now; am I right?

[msstate7]

Rosario, that was pathetic

[WaitingFor2017]

Walked a guy on 4 straight, down 3, and you're swinging at the first two pitches? Sit your ass down, Eddie.

[msstate7]

Walked a guy on 4 straight, down 3, and you're swinging at the first two pitches? Sit your ass down, Eddie.

Unless it's Acuna, Riley, or Olson, I wouldn't let a guy swing 0-0 there

[striker42]

This team needs the All Star break bad.

[msstate7]

Cano
Harris
Acuna

I'd PH ozuna for cano

[msstate7]

https://i.postimg.cc/kgdfTg2z/A1-AD0-C36-7-D02-4744-84-DB-05464-BEE03-C5.jpg (https://postimages.org/)russian image host (https://postimages.org/)

[msstate7]

Remember when Acuna was on soto's level?

[jsebe10]

Lmao. Soto waved to our bullpen. Classy

[WaitingFor2017]

Soto had to get one last homer as a National against the Braves.

Once again, I'm not sure why two of our relievers are getting a 2nd inning today when the entire pen is available. I do know Matzek only had 6-7 pitches and you want the lefty-lefty matchup with Soto that ended up failing this time.

[msstate7]

Down 3.5 games isn't bad at all considering it was over 10 not too long ago, but it was down to 1.5 last Sunday.

[mfree80]

Okay....So we love Soto.

Enough?

[WaitingFor2017]

Playing the worst team in the majors for 4 games, and you end the series by losing a game to the Mets and to the Phillies (who just swept Miami in 4).

[CrimsonCowboy]

Meh. Just not our day today

[Heyward]

Down 3.5 games isn't bad at all considering it was over 10 not too long ago, but it was down to 1.5 last Sunday.

That and the Mets probably should have lost both on Saturday. They have a golden horseshoe up their ass.

[Heyward]

Playing the worst team in the majors for 4 games, and you end the series by losing a game to the Mets and to the Phillies (who just swept Miami in 4).

Even the Dodgers lost to the Nats. Heck, the Yankees lost 2/3 to the Reds at home, nearly got swept by them. You cant win them all. Dissapointing though, for sure.

[msstate7]

Why is cano hitting here? Ozuna is a better option

[striker42]

One thing I'm very disappointed about is we didn't drill Soto in the ribs when we had the chance.

[jsebe10]

I see no reason for Cano to be on this team after today.

[WaitingFor2017]

I had no idea the Nationals had lost 15 of their last 16 games prior to today. Woof.

[mfree80]

Cano came tumbling back to earth today.

[jsebe10]

Here comes the Sir Selfish with a pop out trying to hit a 8 run HR

[msstate7]

Catching the Mets will be determined by Acuna imo. If he continues to be just a good, but not great player, I don't think it happens

[striker42]

Catching the Mets will be determined by Acuna imo. If he continues to be just a good, but not great player, I don't think it happens

It will also be determined by the Mets luck. If they keep getting ridiculous breaks, no one's catching them.

[WaitingFor2017]

Braves need to be in the lead and have a nice cushion before September.

In September, the Mets play:
Nationals
Pirates
Marlins
Cubs
Pirates
Brewers
Athletics
Marlins
Braves
Nationals

[msstate7]

Acuna k is the perfect way to end the half. Man up, superstar

[Heyward]

It will also be determined by the Mets luck. If they keep getting ridiculous breaks, no one's catching them.

Yeah if they keep winning every single extra inning game, and getting bloop singles with 2 outs. There's nothing we can really do. They're a good team and way better than last year but man, havent seen a team get this many breaks before.

[jsebe10]

Braves need to be in the lead and have a nice cushion before September.

In September, the Mets play:
Nationals
Pirates
Marlins
Cubs
Pirates
Brewers
Athletics
Marlins
Braves
Nationals

Factor in getting DeGrom back as well MFers will win every game in September 1-0

[msstate7]

My bold 2nd half projections:
1. Acuna and ozuna have monster 2nd halves
2. Merrifield is a brave
3. Soroka comes back and is really effective

I don't really feel we win the division, but we go farther in playoffs than Mets

[Heyward]

Catching the Mets will be determined by Acuna imo. If he continues to be just a good, but not great player, I don't think it happens

It'll come down to the head to head games. And as striker said, if they keep getting every single lucky break, it wont really matter.

[jsebe10]

Acuna k is the perfect way to end the half. Man up, superstar

Ron Sr isn’t going to like this…fortunately for you you have the same hate for the white players on the team.

[CrimsonCowboy]

All Star break may be coming at a good time for some on this message board

[Heyward]

Not the best way to end the break given we were 1.5 back, and now probably 3.5 out/4 in the L column unless the Cubs can comeback. Not sure winning the division is a huge deal, gonna have to go through the Dodgers and/or Mets at some point. Just get into the playoffs healthy and let the chips fall where they must.

[VirginiaBrave]

I think winning the division is huge. All non-Braves fans are still b----ing about last year having a champ with 88 wins but at least we have the legit counter that they actually won a division to get in. Wild cards are nothing to celebrate unless there are 95-100 wins behind them. If you have to use a wild card with the second or third-best record then fine but it should be viewed differently for those teams on the edge of the playoff hunt.

[zbhargrove]

Cubs go ahead bottom of the 8th

[Heyward]

Cubs go ahead bottom of the 8th

Wonder how Mets take the lead in the 9th. Walk, HBP, bloop single over SS, passed ball, broken bat in the infield.

[tululush]

Wonder how Mets take the lead in the 9th. Walk, HBP, bloop single over SS, passed ball, broken bat in the infield.

Hbp followed by three consecutive balks.

[zbhargrove]

Cubs win! 2.5 feels better

[msstate7]

Damn, thanks cubs

[Heyward]

Cubs low-key should have swept them, but one is okay i guess.

[Hulavol]

I just saw the cubbies score. I feel MUCH better about 2.5 back.
We are playing amazing good baseball overall right now. The Mets luck will normalize - they are the Mets after all, and we should blow right past them. They have too many holes on offense and bullpen for a trade deadline to really fix. They certainly have the farm weapons to go after whatever they want, but not enough to fix it all. I hope they try though, would be great if they did. They’ll still lose the division and their farm will will get decimated to some degree in the process.
Finally, they will lose to us or LA in the playoffs anyway- so hope they make some big trades, and end up with nothing to show for it. For evidence of what this can do to a club, well it isn’t pretty. - see Mark Texiera.

[Buzzworm]

Acuna is in the biggest slump of his career.
Has got to turn it around.
But the hate on this board for him has reached epic proportions.
When DuFail and Swanson were flailing away I don’t remember this much **** thrown.
When he leaves at the end of his deal it’s going to be fun to watch the hate spew from certain folks when we play him lol

[msstate7]

Acuna is in the biggest slump of his career.
Has got to turn it around.
But the hate on this board for him has reached epic proportions.
When DuFail and Swanson were flailing away I don’t remember this much **** thrown.
When he leaves at the end of his deal it’s going to be fun to watch the hate spew from certain folks when we play him lol

Swanson has caught a lot of hell on this board. Not sure why you would include him.

The fact of the matter is expectations are higher for great players than avg players. I thought this would be obvious.

No player has caught more hell on this board than Olson. Why? Bc he replaced a great player and we traded a lot for him, therefore we expect more.

[msstate7]

Just saw fried pulled out of AS game. Good, I want him on the mound Friday vs babe Ruth

[thewupk]

I think winning the division is huge. All non-Braves fans are still b----ing about last year having a champ with 88 wins but at least we have the legit counter that they actually won a division to get in. Wild cards are nothing to celebrate unless there are 95-100 wins behind them. If you have to use a wild card with the second or third-best record then fine but it should be viewed differently for those teams on the edge of the playoff hunt.

None of that matters. Winning the division matters now because the top 2 division champs get a 1st round bye.

[thewupk]

Just saw fried pulled out of AS game. Good, I want him on the mound Friday vs babe Ruth

Disappointing on a personal level but great for the team

[Slippyjms]

22-13

[VirginiaBrave]

None of that matters. Winning the division matters now because the top 2 division champs get a 1st round bye.

It does to me and that's all that matters. For the record, since we don't care about tradition and legacy anymore, just do away with the divisions and leagues and just take the top 12 records as playoff teams.

[thewupk]

It does to me and that's all that matters. For the record, since we don't care about tradition and legacy anymore, just do away with the divisions and leagues and just take the top 12 records as playoff teams.

If you cared about tradition and legacy then you should be ok with the idea of doing away with divisions since started in the 69. For a team in the middle of a healthy contention window all that matters is setting yourself up for playoff success. With the current rules that means being the 1st or 2nd best division winner. At this point, the 3rd best division winner is just as important as a wild card.