GDT - Braves vs. Phils 5/22/18

[thethe]

Acuna laced a double that didn't get more than 5 feet off the ground. 110mph EV

[nsacpi]

retroactively expecting a yuge game from Acuna

[thethe]

retroactively expecting a yuge game from Acuna

Ouch

[pfiggy]

Faux pas by Jr. on the bases......

[Runnin]

WTF was that???

[Garmel]

ugh

[Enscheff]

Acuna laced a double that didn't get more than 5 feet off the ground. 110mph EV

Man he hits the ball consistently hard.

[thethe]

Nice first inning from mccarthey. The curve has nice downward tilt to it so far

[CyYoung31]

What happened to real 5-tool prospects who were elite on defense, on the bases, and swinging the bat? Players like Jason Heywood.

[GeorgiaGirl]

What happened to real 5-tool prospects who were elite on defense, on the bases, and swinging the bat? Players like Jason Heywood.

Haha people are already saying that Acuna is going to be just like Jason Heyward, a bust if he doesn't get sent down to the minors.

The silly. Because I'd like for Acuna to be a better hitter than him but Heyward is a great outcome, most minor leaguers don't work out.

[Managuarantano's Volunteers]

Sometimes you gotta throw your curveball less hard.

- lessons from Joe Simpson

[striker42]

Big zone for Velasquez early.

[Enscheff]

Haha people are already saying that Acuna is going to be just like Jason Heyward, a bust if he doesn't get sent down to the minors.

The silly. Because I'd like for Acuna to be a better hitter than him but Heyward is a great outcome, most minor leaguers don't work out.

Who is saying this?

[striker42]

Why is Flaherty playing?

[Managuarantano's Volunteers]

Why is Flaherty playing?
He should have kept bunting, 3B played super far off

[GeorgiaGirl]

Who is saying this?

https://twitter.com/scottcoleman55/status/998958905513263105

Look at the tweets in this status. I didn't even realize that Joe Simpson is providing...instructions as I don't listen to the broadcast.

[GeorgiaGirl]

Why is Flaherty playing?

Because he has "hit well off Velasquez".

This team has embraced analytics but still is "in" on traditional stuff.

[thethe]

Why is Flaherty playing?

Nobody knows

[thewupk]

https://twitter.com/scottcoleman55/status/998958905513263105

Look at the tweets in this status. I didn't even realize that Joe Simpson is providing...instructions as I don't listen to the broadcast.

Twitter is a cesspool

[Managuarantano's Volunteers]

Twitter is a cesspool

a few of those people were joking...I hope

[thewupk]

Chip acting like hard hit balls are guaranteed hits

[CyYoung31]

Chip acting like hard hit balls are guaranteed hits

LINE DRIVE BASE HIT CAUGHT OUT THERE

[thewupk]

LINE DRIVE BASE HIT CAUGHT OUT THERE

**** never gets old

[salmagundy]

Nobody knows

Might be to get him some ABs going to BoSox where we might see 3 LH starters

[Ozzie Swanson]

OZZIE!

[thethe]

Albies bomb!

[GeorgiaGirl]

Hah! I called that Albies HR on reddit yesterday.

[striker42]

Oz, the Great and Powerful

[Enscheff]

When Acuna comes up and struggles with MLB sequencing (meaning swinging at breaking balls away) while posting an OPS that might not crack the .800s...there will be complaints.

It is absolutely imperative the Braves give up a few weeks/months of .750 OPS Acuna in 2018 for a full year of .900 OPS Acuna in 2024.


The complaints are probably coming soon.

[Managuarantano's Volunteers]

Boom!!!

[The Chosen One]

Albies. Mmm.

[Enscheff]

And Ozzie goes Albeast mode and hits another one 2' over the fence haha.

[Julio3000]

Turns out he hits first-pitch hanging breakers, too.

[mfree80]

The homerless streak is over. whew!

[GeorgiaGirl]

The complaints are probably coming soon.

The overanalysis has been here from the start on him. I suspect he'll be good but unless he absolutely blows up people are going to complain just like seemingly half the fanbase did with Heyward.

[Runnin]

What happened to real 5-tool prospects who were elite on defense, on the bases, and swinging the bat? Players like Jason Heywood.

Including brains, there are really 6 tools, which looks like could be a chink in Acuna's armor. I still don't understand what he was doing on that play at home. He never looked at Washington and he wasn't running that hard. Maybe he though the grounder got through.

[UNCBlue012]

McCarthy is on it so far today!

[Managuarantano's Volunteers]

Phillies apparently haven’t heard of the informal replay rule. We’re lucky they didn’t challenge the play at first

[UNCBlue012]

Great at-bat for Neck.

[jpx7]

Oz, the Great and Powerful

The Little King.

[UNCBlue012]

Come on... gotta get several runs here.

[mfree80]

Come on... gotta get several runs here.

crooked number!

[jpx7]

The overanalysis has been here from the start on him. I suspect he'll be good but unless he absolutely blows up people are going to complain just like seemingly half the fanbase did with Heyward.

Always have to have an Andruw.

[GeorgiaGirl]

Dansby never gets close calls.

[USMA76]

Please no pop out or K.

[UNCBlue012]

Seriously... come on, Dansby. Just make freaking contact.

[USMA76]

Please no pop out or K.

So much for that wish. Do I get two more?

[GeorgiaGirl]

That was an awful swing but you rarely ever seen strike 2 get called there. Alfaro moved the glove so much and yet it's called because...why?

[striker42]

Flaherty is worse than useless

[UNCBlue012]

What the hell is happening? Guys, just make contact.

[Ozzie Swanson]

Damn.

[CJ9]

The worst part of this inning is that once Dansby fell behind 1-2, it was extremely obvious how the inning was going to end.

[WaitingFor2017]

I'm so glad Flaherty got the start tonight.

[USMA76]

So much for a promising inning.

[thewupk]

We suck again

[UNCBlue012]

There's a really good chance that hurts us later. Man.

I don't get why we struggle so bad with bases loaded and no outs. It has to be completely mental.

[bravesfanMatt]

Cleared the pitcher at least.

[Carp]

Pathetic.

[striker42]

I think I could strike out Flaherty left handed. I throw like a 6 year old girl left handed

[GeorgiaGirl]

Maybe if Swanson doesn't get that maybe BS strike 2 that inning goes differently but...did he even see a fastball there?

[TheBravos]

I'm so glad Flaherty got the start tonight.

Why....just why is he starting ever??

[salmagundy]

Swanson showed poor zone recognition swinging at pitch well out of 2 times. Flaherty just guessing about where the pitch is going and McCarthy's excuse for K'ing is he's a pitcher.

What happened to the old Cox adage about trying a squeeze play after coach visit to mound and runner on 3rd with less than 2 outs??

[Managuarantano's Volunteers]

Maybe if Swanson doesn't get that maybe BS strike 2 that inning goes differently but...did he even see a fastball there?

I think VV has thrown him 1 all game, that low and away borderline call K he had on his first at bat

[striker42]

With the offense getting shut down last night and a pitcher with good stuff going tonight, probably not a good idea to give Flaherty a start. I realize backups need playing time to stay sharp but tonight is not the night to have him out there.

[WaitingFor2017]

Flaherty is 1 for his last 17. His pumpkin arrived awhile ago.

[mfree80]

Swanson showed poor zone recognition swinging at pitch well out of 2 times. Flaherty just guessing about where the pitch is going and McCarthy's excuse for K'ing is he's a pitcher.

What happened to the old Cox adage about trying a squeeze play after coach visit to mound and runner on 3rd with less than 2 outs??

Don't usually squeeze with the bases loaded.

[USMA76]

I'd like to think Flaherty might be sucking less if not for all the PT given Bautista in that miserable experiment.

[Managuarantano's Volunteers]

I'd like to think Flaherty might be sucking less if not for all the PT given Bautista in that miserable experiment.

Flaherty has always been this bad though throughout his career

[CJ9]

Dansby’s K% now almost 28.

[USMA76]

Flaherty has always been this bad though throughout his career

Perhaps but it's hard to find much of a groove when you've only been in, what, five games in a month. Who knows he might still be as bad if he weren't so rusty.

[Garmel]

It's going to take time for Dansby to get his eye back it seems.

[UNCBlue012]

Holy crap, I didn't realize Hoskins was in such a horrible slump.

[GeorgiaGirl]

Lol that was off the plate.

[Ozzie Swanson]

Should've been a 4 pitch walk for Albies.

[striker42]

This ump's zone is crazy

[Ozzie Swanson]

This ump's zone is crazy

I honestly thought he's been pretty good outside of a few missed calls.

[striker42]

Acuna too strong for his own good there

[UNCBlue012]

Acuna too strong for his own good there

It's annoying and hilarious as heck. Dude is a monster.

[GeorgiaGirl]

Markakis has been as good so far but I honestly would like to see Albies go after Freeman's AB unless Freeman gets on or gets an XBH.

[mfree80]

Phillies keep not challenging close plays. What are they thinking?

[GeorgiaGirl]

Phillies keep not challenging close plays. What are they thinking?

Albies was safe there but it still baffles me that they didn't challenge on the dribbler with Velasquez.

[UNCBlue012]

Lmao. Please get a run here!

[mfree80]

Albies was safe there but it still baffles me that they didn't challenge on the dribbler with Velasquez.

Clearly safe but that is no guarantee.

[jpx7]

Markakis has been as good so far but I honestly would like to see Albies go after Freeman's AB unless Freeman gets on or gets an XBH.

MarkakVPis would look good leading-off.

[UNCBlue012]

MarkakVPis would look good leading-off.

Markakis RF
Acuna LF
Freeman 1B
Albies 2B
Zuk/Flowers C
Inciarte CF
Camargo 3B
Swanson SS
Pitcher

[GeorgiaGirl]

Markakis RF
Acuna LF
Freeman 1B
Albies 2B
Zuk/Flowers C
Inciarte CF
Camargo 3B
Swanson SS
Pitcher

The best hitter actually hits 2nd in an analytics lineup.

[UNCBlue012]

The best hitter actually hits 2nd in an analytics lineup.

Exactly. ;)

[UNCBlue012]

Holy crap. We've left two or three easy runs on third base.

[TheBravos]

1st strike on Ender BS

[CyYoung31]

This ump ****ing blows.

[CrimsonCowboy]

That’s two at bats that a bogus strike call changed the at bat. The other being Swanson’s.

[CyYoung31]

I find it a little depressing that a team, who had a long sell-out streak not too long ago, can only manage to draw about 20,000 for a matchup between the 1st and 2nd place teams.

[UNCBlue012]

That was a truly awful sequence of pitches to Altherr.

[TheBravos]

Man but the ump isn’t giving us those calls...

[UNCBlue012]

Man but the ump isn’t giving us those calls...

He's nibbling like crazy though. Just attack these guys.

[USMA76]

Two sets of strike zones for this jackass behind the plate.

[UNCBlue012]

Wow. Two outs and just stopped attacking — back pitch after bad pitch.

This is where getting even a run with a runner on third would have helped.

[UNCBlue012]

Whew!! Please score here.

[Carp]

Ball 3 was clearly just called a strike on Flowers. Ump is terrible

[WaitingFor2017]

Dansby K rate is concerning at this point.

[USMA76]

Dansby=Clueless

[Julio3000]

Dansby Ks a lot but he makes up for it by not hitting for power.

[GeorgiaGirl]

Dansby=Clueless

Can't hit anything that is not a fastball. I'm starting to wonder if my worry is going to be true and the Braves will be shopping for a shortstop in the offseason...

[jpx7]

Dansby K rate is concerning at this point.

Would like to see some improvement there.

[Garmel]

Can't hit anything that is not a fastball. I'm starting to wonder if my worry is going to be true and the Braves will be shopping for a shortstop in the offseason...

Give him a little time. He was out awhile.

[USMA76]

Can't hit anything that is not a fastball. I'm starting to wonder if my worry is going to be true and the Braves will be shopping for a shortstop in the offseason...

I thought he was making progress with off speed stuff but I'm starting to question that assessment.

[GeorgiaGirl]

I thought he was making progress with off speed stuff but I'm starting to question that assessment.

He actually didn't, he made progress with watching stuff that is out of the zone but the only difference in zone was he was CRUSHING fastball mistakes. If that timing is not there he is not going to hit....a darn thing.

[nsacpi]

glad we didn't release McCarthy

[bravesfanMatt]

Wait so do we like McCarthy now. I am always behind.

[GeorgiaGirl]

At some point guys are going to need to pitch deeper as long as their count is fine...

[WaitingFor2017]

Great call by Snit by getting Freeman in there.

[Ozzie Swanson]

Should've been ball 4.

[Tapate50]

The ink is rubbing off the k button on the scoreboard input keyboard

[WaitingFor2017]

Feels like a 2013 game right now where K's are the norm for a winning team.

[msstate7]

Phillies have a very good pitching staff.

[nsacpi]

At some point guys are going to need to pitch deeper as long as their count is fine...

yes...but the off day on Thursday gives Snitker a bit of leeway tonight and tomorrow

[Julio3000]

yes...but the off day on Thursday gives Snitker a bit of leeway tonight and tomorrow

He's going to have Sam Freeman toss a simulated game Thursday FWIW.

[Ozzie Swanson]

Winkler is our best reliever. His stuff is filthy.

[nsacpi]

He's going to have Sam Freeman toss a simulated game Thursday FWIW.

only way to stay sharp

[nsacpi]

Winkler is our best reliever. His stuff is filthy.

I love watching him pitch

[Julio3000]

only way to stay sharp

We call it the Avilan Plan.

[Julio3000]

Winkler is our best reliever. His stuff is filthy.

Soooo nasty. I half-expect his arm to blow up every time he delivers, though.

[nsacpi]

We call it the Avilan Plan.

I think it has been renamed the Gearrin-Avilan Plan...covers both lefties and righties

[Ozzie Swanson]

Dansby seems to constantly get screwed by umpires.

[USMA76]

Dansby seems to constantly get screwed by umpires.

Golden sombrero for Dansby...smh

[msstate7]

Dansby seems to constantly get screwed by umpires.

Then he screws himself. What an awful night for him

[TheBravos]

Just swinging at everything Joey bats style

[Ozzie Swanson]

Golden sombrero for Dansby...smh

1-0 pitch was at his neck and was called a strike.

[thewupk]

Feels like a 2013 game right now where K's are the norm for a winning team.
Lol these pitches aren't close

[Julio3000]

Dansby seems to constantly get screwed by umpires.

That was, er, not the biggest problem with that AB.

[NYCBrave]

Hard to remember a time this year when we've swung and missed at so many pitches. We'll be lucky to win this one.

[WaitingFor2017]

7-8-9 spots are 0-11 tonight with 9 strikeouts. Woof.

[USMA76]

1-0 pitch was at his neck and was called a strike.

Regardless of the crappy umpiring, Swanson has been coming up small repeatedly tonight.

[weso1]

It appears to me that Swanson's not staying on the ball like he was at the beginning of the season.

[Carp]

Now he hits a fly ball to the OF.....

[Garmel]

It appears to me that Swanson's not staying on the ball like he was at the beginning of the season.

I'm just hoping it's from being rusty.

[wowbobwow]

7-8-9 spots are 0-11 tonight with 9 strikeouts. Woof.

that's bad, right?

[TURBO]

Already nervous about Viz in 9th ans we are in the 8th.

[Carp]

Phillies have a very good pitching staff.

Velazquez stinks. We should have shelled him tonight. Had opportunities and pissed them away with horrible at bats.

[Ozzie Swanson]

**** THIS UMPIRE!

[TheBravos]

Strike

[USMA76]

This ump is warm garbage.

[Garmel]

The strikezone changed.

[CyYoung31]

I can’t figure out who the bigger tool is, Herrera or this ump.

[USMA76]

I can’t figure out who the bigger tool is, Herrera or this ump.

Tough call, indeed.

[Garmel]

A guy that should have struck out gets a double.

[TheBravos]

This ump is warm garbage.

He’s called that exact spot a strike on us more than once. We aren’t gonna win this game probably if the ump has anything to do with it.

[USMA76]

Pretty easy to get on base when you're allowed five strikes per at bat.

[Carp]

He just hit a double on a 1-4 count. Impressive.... Phuck this ump.

[bravesfanMatt]

All night the ump has been bad. Strikes on balls. Then that pitch in same spot called a ball for the faillies.

[salmagundy]

that's bad, right?

Leaving 13 on base during those 9 Ks makes it even worse. 9 of those LOB were when the bases were loaded and 0 outs begining with Swanson

[CyYoung31]

Oh, **** this.

[USMA76]

Eff me.

[Ozzie Swanson]

Unbelievable.

[TURBO]

Wild pitch incoming

[Ozzie Swanson]

Good work Minter. Overcame a ****ty umpire and a bull**** hit.

[Garmel]

Some insurance runs would be great, guys.

[nsacpi]

Minty Hippo does his job

[TheBravos]

This game has a Viz blown save written all over it....

[salmagundy]

Snitckers can't stand being in 1st place!!!

How will he play the 9th!!!

[msstate7]

I thought for sure that was a hit

[Ozzie Swanson]

"That ball was cranked!" Caught before the warning track. Thanks Chip.

[striker42]

This game has a Viz blown save written all over it....

Thought that myself

[Ozzie Swanson]

This umpire is wildly inconsistent.

[USMA76]

With Vizcaino coming in, we sure need some more runs here.

[CyYoung31]

I’m calling an Acuna homer here.

[mfree80]

Where was that strike to Albies????

[weso1]

That pitch was not a strike last half inning.

[msstate7]

I’m calling an Acuna homer here.

I'll settle for a single

[USMA76]

This umpire is wildly inconsistent.

...consistently in the Phillies favor

[Ozzie Swanson]

Baby Braves come through!

[Garmel]

Acuna was owed that one.

[CyYoung31]

I’m calling an Acuna homer here.

My phone auto corrected to homer. I meant bloop single.

[msstate7]

What was the EV? Haha

[mfree80]

What was the EV? Haha

Just barely.

[USMA76]

Acuna was owed that one.

It appears his previous problem was hitting the ball too hard.

[bravesfanforlife88]

And in comes Viz

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zR-3KOIQGCw/VD6ombhyhCI/AAAAAAAAF1A/SHxoVdvwlgg/s1600/dont-suck.png

[Ozzie Swanson]

Lol @ Acuña talking ish to a fan.

[USMA76]

My stomach is in knots right now.

[TheBravos]

Viz will make it interesting no matter what...that’s how he rolls. Two quick outs, walk two, give up a hit and run and walk another...then maybe win.

[DirkPiggler]

My stomach is in knots right now.

Doesn't it feel good to give a damn again?

[CyYoung31]

Lol, the ump has enjoyed calling that ball 4 inches below the zone a strike all night. If I was a hitter I’d be pissed.

[msstate7]

Viz will make it interesting no matter what...that’s how he rolls. Two quick outs, walk two, give up a hit and run and walk another...then maybe win.

Walk, 2 wild pitches, walk another, go 3-1 and come back for k

[USMA76]

Doesn't it feel good to give a damn again?

Good point!

[CrimsonCowboy]

http://i.imgur.com/P6x0U.gif

[Ozzie Swanson]

Good work Viz!

[pfiggy]

http://i58.tinypic.com/2h7phmd.jpg

[bravesfanforlife88]

https://tomahawktake.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/17/files/2015/06/11263140_10153831767818154_2776291953570074927_n.j pg

[TURBO]

https://media.giphy.com/media/4wMlW2RcOCVCU/giphy.gif

[msstate7]

We will leave philly in 1st place

[nsacpi]

extent Viz

extent McCarthy

[salmagundy]

We'll leave Philly still in 1st place.

And we won't have to listen to Chip until we get to Boston!!

[TheBravos]

Now...Gohard knocks them out with the sweat ball tomorrow !!

[bravesfanMatt]

Feels good to beat the opposing team and the home plate ump in one game...

[CJ9]

Huge win ahead of Gohara’s first start of the year. Hard to know what to expect from him, so nice to guarantee at least one win in Philly.

[Heyward]

Much needed win, not sure what to expect from Gohara but good to know we at least got 1 in Philly this series.

[Bravesfan]

Big win. Not sure what to expect out of Gohara in his first start. We took one in Philly. Thats good.

[AerchAngel]

Viz with a clean inning.

With this umpire nonetheless.

And Batman and Robin providing that 1 run cushion helps as well. Oh Albies is Batman for now even though he is the shorter one. When Acuna starts pounded it, I will reverse the roles.

[AerchAngel]

Thread is a failure.

No Acuna/Albies gif when he put Albies in the Corbra Clutch

[GovClintonTyree]

extent Viz

extent McCarthy

You just have to live with the fact that one out of every five games, they're going to suck. The rest are pretty good. Same with Julion.

[VirginiaBrave]

Drumbeats of '91, this is what it was like as far as Dodger matchups back then. This series is huge because of the gap before we see them again.

[Super]

I find it a little depressing that a team, who had a long sell-out streak not too long ago, can only manage to draw about 20,000 for a matchup between the 1st and 2nd place teams.

to be fair, weather was supposed to be bad. i didn't make the decision to go until about 5PM, when it was clearing up. and tix were really cheap at that point.

[Super]

Including brains, there are really 6 tools, which looks like could be a chink in Acuna's armor. I still don't understand what he was doing on that play at home. He never looked at Washington and he wasn't running that hard. Maybe he though the grounder got through.

that was a weird play, what happened? did hernandez bobble the ball? it looked to me like he had a fairly easy play at 1st, but threw home?

[Super]

i've seen ozzie homer like 5 times in person this year. considering i would've been happy if he hit 10 home runs total..i like it.

[thethe]

to be fair, weather was supposed to be bad. i didn't make the decision to go until about 5PM, when it was clearing up. and tix were really cheap at that point.

Bottom line is the Braves are already out pacing the average attendance from last year before the natural summer bump when kids are not in school. Not sure about the breakout of weekend games from 17 to 18 but things are looking up for the FA spending pool this year.

[Southcack77]

Braves have fewest blown saves in the majors since Viz took over closer role again, I read.

[Southcack77]

Bottom line is the Braves are already out pacing the average attendance from last year before the natural summer bump when kids are not in school. Not sure about the breakout of weekend games from 17 to 18 but things are looking up for the FA spending pool this year.

Bottom line is that the game was in Philadelphia?

[Super]

Bottom line is that the game was in Philadelphia?

i was surprised at the lack of crowd there monday, tho not last night. monday was beautiful, and the phillies are playing well, and were playing the braves. still not a lot of people.

[thethe]

Bottom line is that the game was in Philadelphia?

I inferred the original comment from CyYoung as a mock of the criticism of Atlanta attendance. Maybe that was not interpreted appropriately.

[Southcack77]

I inferred the original comment from CyYoung as a mock of the criticism of Atlanta attendance. Maybe that was not interpreted appropriately.

Reminds me that I need to plug in some numbers.

[thewupk]

I inferred the original comment from CyYoung as a mock of the criticism of Atlanta attendance. Maybe that was not interpreted appropriately.

you're getting cynical in your old age

[thethe]

you're getting cynical in your old age

I'd like to think more observant

[nsacpi]

I'd like to think more observant

wiser...older and wiser

[CyYoung31]

I inferred the original comment from CyYoung as a mock of the criticism of Atlanta attendance. Maybe that was not interpreted appropriately.

No. It was a comment on the seemingly declining attendance in baseball.

[CyYoung31]

I'd like to think more observant

You certainly have a knack for seeing things no one else sees.

[bravesfanMatt]

I might be tempted to give Dansby a night off and go lefty on Jake. I just can’t remeber if Jake is tougher against lefties vs righties.

[jpx7]

Braves have fewest blown saves in the majors since Viz took over closer role again, I read.

That really puts the constant Vizplaints in perspective.

[Super]

That really puts the constant Vizplaints in perspective.

i still wouldn't say he's been particularly good.

[bravesfanMatt]

i still wouldn't say he's been particularly good.

I feel like he is trying to find his slider still. Once that comes back he is very good. I am glad snit didn’t knee jerk with him. I would have. But I would be a horrible manager.

[Nerfherders]

I love how a relatively easy 3-1 win manifests in the game thread as three hours of complaining and b*tching about the umpiring.

[bravesfanMatt]

I love how a relatively easy 3-1 win manifests in the game thread as three hours of complaining and b*tching about the umpiring.

It was deserved. Could have been an easy 5-1 win instead.

[jpx7]

i still wouldn't say he's been particularly good.

I’m not saying I’m not also filled with trepidation every time he enters a game with a narrow lead. But sometimes it’s nice to see how those feelings don’t jibe with the reality of results.

On the other hand, “fewest blown saves” aggregate (as opposed to rate) is likely in part a function of limited opportunities the last few years. Can’t blow a save if your team is always behind.