GDT 5-12-16: Braves vs. Phillies

[UNCBlue012]

PhiLOLies:

1. Odubel Herrera (L) CF
2. Andres Blanco (S) 2B
3. Maikel Franco (R) 3B
4. Ryan Howard (L) 1B
5. Freddy Galvis (S) SS
6. Cameron Rupp (R) C
7. David Lough (L) LF
8. Vince Velasquez (R) P
9. Peter Bourjos (R) RF

Braves:

1. Nick Markakis (L) RF
2. Ender Inciarte (L) LF
3. Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
4. Kelly Johnson (L) 2B
5. A.J. Pierzynski (L) C
6. Gordon Beckham (R) 3B
7. Erick Aybar (S) SS
8. Aaron Blair (R) P
9. Mallex Smith (L) CF

Even with our early (and probably prolonged) woes, I get excited to watch our young guys pitch. Wisler had been fantastic with back-to-back 8 inning performances, Perez threw a gem last night, Folty's last start was pure dominance, Julio has been good for about 4-5 starts, Blair started well and Viz is just fun to watch.

Our offense is still trash, but It's great to see what a competent 1-4 can do.

I hope Blair can get better defense this start and get us a series win!!! GO BRAVOS!

[Preacher]

I don't understand the fascination with Markakis leading off now that Ender is back. Why?

[UNCBlue012]

I don't understand the fascination with Markakis leading off now that Ender is back. Why?

I have no idea. I'm completely happy with Kelly hitting cleanup though, since he actually has power opportunities. I switch Nick and Ender anyways.

[striker42]

I expect Wisler to fall back to earth at some point. He doesn't have the K numbers to keep up what he's been doing. He's been benefiting from a super low BABIP. His ERA should be in the low 4s. He's better than last year but he's not suddenly a number 2 starter.

I have high hopes for Blair. People keep saying he should be a number 3 starter but I think he has a chance to be a number 2. I don't see any reason he can't consistently produce an ERA in the 3.00-3.50 range.

[striker42]

I don't understand the fascination with Markakis leading off now that Ender is back. Why?

Superstition. We broke the losing streak to start the season when Markakis was moved to leadoff.

[UNCBlue012]

I expect Wisler to fall back to earth at some point. He doesn't have the K numbers to keep up what he's been doing. He's been benefiting from a super low BABIP. His ERA should be in the low 4s. He's better than last year but he's not suddenly a number 2 starter.

I have high hopes for Blair. People keep saying he should be a number 3 starter but I think he has a chance to be a number 2. I don't see any reason he can't consistently produce an ERA in the 3.00-3.50 range.

My sentiments are the opposite on Wisler. I think he'll fall back down to a certain extent, but I expect him to live in the number 2-3 starter range for him career. He's smart and his placement is really good. I think he's getting better with his pitches and learn to use his (surprisingly) improved fastball all over the plate. In his last start the guy masterfully placed fastballs. I haven't seen a Braves starter with the 1-hit dominance he showed two starts ago since Julio had his 2014 performance.

[nsacpi]

Expecting a yuge game from AJ.

[striker42]

My sentiments are the opposite on Wisler. I think he'll fall back down to a certain extent, but I expect him to live in the number 2-3 starter range for him career. He's smart and his placement is really good. I think he's getting better with his pitches and learn to use his (surprisingly) improved fastball all over the plate. In his last start the guy masterfully placed fastballs. I haven't seen a Braves starter with the 1-hit dominance he showed two starts ago since Julio had his 2014 performance.

I'm not saying Wisler isn't going to have a good career. I'm just saying he's not a low-3 ERA guy at this point. I expect him to regress as that BABIP starts to climb back as it pretty much has to. Even so, I expect him to be better than last year. He's taken steps forward.

Wisler still has a couple things that will determine how good he'll be. The first is whether he can limit the longball. That's plagued him in the majors. However I expect he'll figure that out. The other thing is finding an out pitch. He's either got to develop a new pitch to get Ks (maybe the changeup he's working on) or he's got to figure out how to use his good fastball and good slider to get swings and misses.

The more I see of Wisler the more I think that he has a chance (granted a slim chance) to be really, really special. He could be one of those guys that just gets better and better and becomes an ace in spite of not having overpowering stuff. I think middle of the rotation starter is more likely but if he can figure out some way to get strikeouts then he has everything else he needs to be a dominant pitcher.

[bravesfanMatt]

I just hate AJ catching just because it is a Righty on the mound... Frego has such a boner for righty/lefty matchups it is becoming annoying..

[Russ2dollas]

I feel like Julio is a solid 2

I think most of our young guys are going to be very good 3s elite 4s

We could do a lot with that. But we really need at least one of Newcombe and Simms to be at least Julio level.

In the next wave we have more shots at an ace with allard sorka freid. But they are prob 3 plus yrs away

[57Brave]

I don't understand the fascination with Markakis leading off now that Ender is back. Why?

.376 vs .286 OBP.

[Braves1976]

I expect Wisler to fall back to earth at some point. He doesn't have the K numbers to keep up what he's been doing. He's been benefiting from a super low BABIP. His ERA should be in the low 4s. He's better than last year but he's not suddenly a number 2 starter.

I have high hopes for Blair. People keep saying he should be a number 3 starter but I think he has a chance to be a number 2. I don't see any reason he can't consistently produce an ERA in the 3.00-3.50 range.

I agree with you on both Wisler and Blair here. However, I will say that Wisler being such a fly ball pitcher could continue to benefit from having Inciarte and Smith in the same outfield.

[Braves1976]

AJP is a treat to watch, lol.

[msstate7]

If Blair isn't gonna strike guys out, he better not walk batters

[chop2chip]

elite 4s

I know what you meant by this, but still... it's either an oxymoron or all encompassing of the fiscal year ended 2016 Atlanta Braves.

[Garmel]

Forgot to cover 3rd? Gotta be kidding me.

[Garmel]

As bad as Blair was that inning he only gave up one run.

[Garmel]

I wonder how many times we K tonight. Two already in the first inning.

[Braves1976]

As bad as Blair was that inning he only gave up one run.

He also continues to get little to no help, stolen base and not covering third. Plus he has to throw to AJP...

[Braves1976]

85 pitches after 5 innings isn't only too high and too much in Braves country, lol.