GDT #15, 4/17/'14: Braves (Wood) vs Philthies (Burnett); Gattis day off

[Braves1976]

Yep, funny the Fredi haters dont say it when it happens.

Always complaining about something.

Nonsense, a lot of us so called "Fredi haters" called for Kimbrel in the 8th against LA in the playoffs last year. That's the best example IMO.

[Gary82]

Nonsense, a lot of us so called "Fredi haters" called for Kimbrel in the 8th against LA in the playoffs last year. That's the best example IMO.

Please don't bring that up.

[Braves1976]

Yeah, but you burn two catchers there.

True, but Fredi pinch hit his last catcher Laird the day Gattis was sick with flu in Washington. So not like he hasn't done it, though he obviously rarely will. But even if he doesn't there you still have a better situation than what he did.

[Gary82]

Mark Bowman ‏@mlbbowman 2m
Lowest ERA for #Braves starting pitchers thru 15 games since 1990: 1.58 ('14), 1.85 ('08), 2.21 ('94), 2.24 ('13), 2.33 ('93), 2.36 ('97)


Let's pause from our riveting harangues and let's marvel at how good Wood, Santana, Teheran, and others have been.

[nsacpi]

Mark Bowman ‏@mlbbowman 2m
Lowest ERA for #Braves starting pitchers thru 15 games since 1990: 1.58 ('14), 1.85 ('08), 2.21 ('94), 2.24 ('13), 2.33 ('93), 2.36 ('97)


Let's pause from our riveting harangues and let's marvel at how good Wood, Santana, Teheran, and others have been.

Nice

[Heyward]

Nonsense, a lot of us so called "Fredi haters" called for Kimbrel in the 8th against LA in the playoffs last year. That's the best example IMO.

Thats been discussed to death, not worth getting over.

A manager doesnt have THAT much impact over a team winning/losing.

Same with other sports (coaches)

End of the day, up to the players on the field to execute/do their job.

[stpeteirish]

Wood pitches 8, giving up only 1 run. Wood hits and bunts like a 3 year old. Fredi's decisions aside, if Wood would actually learn how to help himself with that stick of his rather than just holding it provocatively at the plate and stop shooting blanks when he's at bat, the team scores and, perhaps, celebrates a win rather than a loss at the climax of the game.

This is the crux of the problem, not strategy, in my criticism of Fredi. Fundamentals are not always sound, and if you want to win over a 162 game schedule they need to be, unless you have a 200 million dollar payroll. Wood can't bunt, get his ass out there and work on it.

Managerial strategy is easy to second guess and rarely makes a big difference in the long run. How do you know that Gattis would have gotten more hits than Laird today? You don't. Would Schafer have scored as a pinch runner where Laird wouldn't have? Who knows. But Wood stuck out bunting so whoever's on second stays there.

And lineup construction rarely matters in the long run. But if BJ's in the 2 hole in June, hitting .180, we have a case where the manager is actually dumb enough for lineup construction to matter.

[Heyward]

I'm not saying that Fredi nearly cost us two games this series, but purple monkey dishwasher.

Not his fault with Avilan, that has been discussed.

Walden unavailable.

Kimbrel unavailable.

Thomas/Varvaro already pitched.

Carp was closer.

And you have Scholosser.......

[stpeteirish]

Mark Bowman ‏@mlbbowman 2m
Lowest ERA for #Braves starting pitchers thru 15 games since 1990: 1.58 ('14), 1.85 ('08), 2.21 ('94), 2.24 ('13), 2.33 ('93), 2.36 ('97)


Let's pause from our riveting harangues and let's marvel at how good Wood, Santana, Teheran, and others have been.

But runs are down everywhere you look in MLB and I'm missing the days where people got hits and scored runs. Have you ever seen so many 1-0 games? They suck, IMO.

[stpeteirish]

My guess is they would have walked Gattis if he had been sent up against Bastardo. Set up the double play and take their chances on him pitching to Heyward, BJ and Freeman. An interesting option for Fredi at that point would been to have Heyward bunt.

or just pull Bastardo, there's plenty of guys in the bullpen in a game like today's.

[nsacpi]

We have some regression coming, starters' ERA is about half starters' FIP. And less than half xFIP.

[Gary82]

But runs are down everywhere you look in MLB and I'm missing the days where people got hits and scored runs. Have you ever seen so many 1-0 games? They suck, IMO.

You're right. Schoenfield kept on going on about how last year's team allowed fewer runs than any 90's Braves team and how this year's team wouldn't match or come close to that again. Well, it's not really that impressive considering that those 90's teams pitched in the height of the steroid era.

And why don't you like 1-0 ballgames? They are so relaxing and stress-free.

[Gary82]

We have some regression coming, starters' ERA is about half starters' FIP. And less than half xFIP.

ERAs

0.64 Santana
0.96 Harang
1.89 Wood
1.93 Teheran
2.89 Hale

1.62 overall in 89 innings.

These numbers aren't going sustain over a season?

[Heyward]

These numbers aren't going sustain over a season?

No but Heyward cant keep hitting this bad, can he?

[Gary82]

No but Heyward cant keep hitting this bad, can he?

Heyward is such a fantastic fielder that I tend to bite my tongue when it comes to his offensive struggles. He will bounce back, but he has been one frustrating player.

[zitothebrave]

No but Heyward cant keep hitting this bad, can he?

He won't. He won't have a .150 BABIP. If his BABIP was .300 which it should be at least (in all honesty he should be at .320 based on his speed) he'd be hitting .255 which isn't amazing but it's not bad.

[Krovahn]

I find it hilarious that some people complained about Wood. He gave up 1 run in a complete game. Really? Come on, now. He pitched his ass off.

[zitothebrave]

I find it hilarious that some people complained about Wood. He gave up 1 run in a complete game. Really? Come on, now. He pitched his ass off.

Yeah, blame the offense. Not the pitching.

[benchguy]

this board always has to blame someone....it is becoming Scout 2

I find it hilarious that some people complained about Wood. He gave up 1 run in a complete game. Really? Come on, now. He pitched his ass off.

[CyYoung31]

this board always has to blame someone....it is becoming Scout 2

That was kind of the idea...