Roberts could have taken Blanton out but they mentioned Montero's struggles against righties. Can't fault him for wanting to get Chapman out of there.
Roberts could have taken Blanton out but they mentioned Montero's struggles against righties. Can't fault him for wanting to get Chapman out of there.
If you wanna second guess, why walk Heyward.
Could still walk Baez and do everything else.
I get that Blanton is on the other side of the mountain now and probably shouldn't have been in the game in a high leverage situation, but I don't agree with walking Coghlan to force Chapman out of the game. It's old-timey thinking (which I can be guilty of), but you never intentionally walk the bases loaded with two outs in a tie game and move a runner from 2nd to 3rd in the process (unless the pitcher will be forced to hit and even then it's an iffy). Bounce a fifty-nine footer and the lead run scores or you get behind in the count and have to put it on a tee. If first had been open, it would have been another matter for me.
And what's wrong with forcing Chapman out there for a second inning? It's a seven-game series and he goes two last night, he may be limited tonight. Further, Maddon hadn't used Rodon yet and while Rodon isn't as good as Chapman, he's still pretty good.
I think we should trade for kershaw
Javier Baez's baseball instincts are off the charts in the field.
Chopping With The Braves And Rolling With The Tide
good win for LA, Kershaw was amazing.
cajunrevenge (10-16-2016), UNCBlue012 (10-17-2016)
Dodgers need to win games Kershaw doesn't pitch in.
Cubs need other guys besides Bryant and Baez to hit.
Chopping With The Braves And Rolling With The Tide
Getting shutout at Wrigley is hard to do.
If they would pay $5M per year on his deal AND his bonus, then I think the Braves should do it. But that's $50M so I doubt they consider it yet without trying to rehabilitate him next year. Their team is built in such a way as they can carry a big mistake for a while if they have to.
IDK, maybe take Heyward, Montero, Baez and Jimenez (Cubs pay Jason's bonus) for Inciarte, Markakis, Jenkins, Ellis and Whalen. I would think the Cubs wouldn't do that because they don't have a clear need for the payroll space. But from a Braves POV I wouldn't do it for less. The Cubs move Heyward's long term money and Montero's short term (although offset somewhat by Markakis) they get an elite defensive CF, an OK RF that they can pair with Soler, and three B-C level pitching prospects. The Braves take a ton of long term monetary risk in Heyward's contract, get a one year catcher in Montero, get the 3B of the near future and a top prospect.
In effect Inciarte = Baez, Montero roughly equals Markakis with Markakis being the better player but owed $8M more total dollars, Heyward's cost and risk are offset by the value of Jimenez and are compensated by three pitching prospects where they really are looking for one to stick. I see it as a clear win for the Braves short term, a potential terrible trade long term if Heyward actually craters and doesn't return, and a big win if Heyward ever finds his bat, his power and meets his potential. Risky but I would do it.
2017:
2B Albies
SS Swanson
1B Freeman
LF Kemp
RF Heyward
3B Baez
C Montero/Flowers
P Teheran
CF Mallex