GDT 9/29/21: Braves vs Philthies - Magic Number at 3

[NinersSBChamps]

just insane it looks like we will be in the playoffs

No it’s really not. Consider the other teams in the division and that someone has to make it.
It’s not insane at all.

[UNCBlue012]

Still playing with house money, given where we were. Even if we lose in the 1st round, it's a successful year.

I am cautiously optimistic, actually. The Dodgers are my only real fear... the Giants, Cards and Brewers are all largely beatable. We're actually constructed well for each of those teams. LA, not so much.

[DirkPiggler]

I am cautiously optimistic, actually. The Dodgers are my only real fear... the Giants, Cards and Brewers are all largely beatable. We're actually constructed well for each of those teams. LA, not so much.

Hopefully the horseshoe that is stuck up the Cardinals' rear end will stay there through the wild card game.

[thethe]

Fried is a bad man.

Can't believe we actually used him out of the bullpen early on.

It was so obvious he was going to be a stud.

[Heyward]

I am cautiously optimistic, actually. The Dodgers are my only real fear... the Giants, Cards and Brewers are all largely beatable. We're actually constructed well for each of those teams. LA, not so much.

Brewers pitching is really, really freaking good. I agree we can beat the other 3 with some luck. Dodgers are just on another level, a top 4 of Scherzer/Urias/Kershaw/Buehler is just unfair to face in a playoff series along with the rest of their team.

[bravesfanforlife88]

Brewers pitching is really, really freaking good. I agree we can beat the other 3 with some luck. Dodgers are just on another level, a top 4 of Scherzer/Urias/Kershaw/Buehler is just unfair to face in a playoff series along with the rest of their team.

I feel the Cardinals are hot at the right time and if it comes down to it, something stupid could happen in the wild card play in game. If they found a way to beat the Dodgers, that would be ideal.

[Slippyjms]

Snitker for manager of the year!! 🤓

Snitker for the unemployment line

[McCann'sCans]

Fried is a bad man.

Can't believe we actually used him out of the bullpen early on.

It was so obvious he was going to be a stud.

I still sometimes think about him winning 17 games in 2019 and then coming out of the bullpen in the playoffs behind Keuchel/Folty/Soroka. I don't think I questioned it at the time, but Keuchel was not good and Fried was nasty out of the bullpen in the first couple games of that series.

I never realized this until a minute ago when I was looking at some box scores of that series- apparently Randy Arozarena went 0-3 as a pinch hitter for the Cards in that series. Don't remember him being there in hindsight. I know Liberatore is a good prospect, but that seemed like a really random trade to make.

[Nerfherders]

I found this interesting. If we mirrored the 2020 season, this is the standings (so far) for the last 60 games (from game 103 on).

Atlanta 35-20 --
Philadelphia 30-26 5.5
Miami 21-35 14.5
NY Mets 20-36 15.5
Washington 18-39 18

That's quite a walloping we gave to the NL East down the stretch.

[CyYoung31]

No it’s really not. Consider the other teams in the division and that someone has to make it.
It’s not insane at all.

Do you ever enjoy anything?

[thewupk]

Do you ever enjoy anything?

the one thing everybody enjoys. your mom

[Enscheff]

the one thing everybody enjoys. your mom

Actually, I find her a little old news now, and not very enjoyable anymore.

[CyYoung31]

This narrative that the Braves are a product of a bad division needs to end. Would they win the division in the NL West this year? No. Would they win the division if they were in the Central? Probably not. Are they still a good team despite playing in a bad division? Absolutely.

[mfree80]

Well, you play the schedule you are given depending on the division you are in. Who's to say how the Braves would have done had their schedule been heavily grounded in another division rather than this one. I don't know, because this is the division the Braves play in. They are going to win this division, so they are in the playoffs. That's all.

[Heyward]

Braves RD is +127, good for 8th in baseball. Braves are also missing Soroka, Ozuna, Acuna. Braves X-W/L is 91-66, shows it's not a fluke and they've been a little unlucky if anything. The NL East is bad this year, maybe sure but the Braves have a good team.

[bravesfanforlife88]

The way the schedule sets up for the NLDS is that the #2 starter would be able to return for game 5 on regular rest.

That being said, do you go Morton/Fried/Anderson or Fried/Morton/Anderson

[thewupk]

This narrative that the Braves are a product of a bad division needs to end. Would they win the division in the NL West this year? No. Would they win the division if they were in the Central? Probably not. Are they still a good team despite playing in a bad division? Absolutely.

Braves have the 4th best run differential in the NL and only trail the Brewers by 3 in that department. Braves are also 4th in WAR in the NL. Pretty obvious they are the 4th best team in the league and an obvious playoff worthy.

[thewupk]

The way the schedule sets up for the NLDS is that the #2 starter would be able to return for game 5 on regular rest.

That being said, do you go Morton/Fried/Anderson or Fried/Morton/Anderson

I think I'd go with Fried going game 1 so he could pitch in game 4. I would want him to get 2 starts for sure.

[thethe]

I'd definitely stay away from overworking Morton in the playoffs.

Fried is a horse and in a seven game set I think he could go 1/4/7 if needed.

[Heyward]

I think I'd go with Fried going game 1 so he could pitch in game 4. I would want him to get 2 starts for sure.

Not sure i'd risk Fried going on short rest. Probably depends if it's 2-1/1-2 either way, i dont think we'd get swept but Braves and playoffs.