GDT 9/4/13: Mets (Gee) @ Braves (Loe) 12:10 PM

[NYCBrave]

Braves:

1. B.J. Upton (R) CF
2. Justin Upton (R) RF
3. Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
4. Evan Gattis (R) LF
5. Gerald Laird (R) C
6. Elliot Johnson (S) 3B
7. Dan Uggla (R) 2B
8. Paul Janish (R) SS
9. Kameron Loe (R) P

Mets:


1. Eric Young (S) LF
2. Daniel Murphy (L) 2B
3. Andrew Brown (R) RF
4. Lucas Duda (L) 1B
5. Justin Turner (R) 3B
6. Travis d'Arnaud (R) C
7. Juan Lagares (R) CF
8. Omar Quintanilla (L) SS
9. Dillon Gee (R) P

[thethe]

I would have rather had Gattis start at catcher and give Terdo a start. Laird is garbage.

[zitothebrave]

Why is Laird catching? Put Gattis behind the plate and play bossman in CF and Schafer in lf. Makes our team so much better defensively.

[thethe]

Why is Laird catching? Put Gattis behind the plate and play bossman in CF and Schafer in lf. Makes our team so much better defensively.

Holy crap, I didn't even notice BJ wasn't in the lineup. I just don't get why we insist on playing Laird. He better not get a start in the postseason or I will go crazy.

[stpeteirish]

ugh. at least they got Gattis in there. Fredi's damn serious about resting people (Simmons, CJ, Mac) how about resting Justin? BJ finally hitting give him another game.

[thethe]

ugh. at least they got Gattis in there. Fredi's damn serious about resting people (Simmons, CJ, Mac) how about resting Justin? BJ finally hitting give him another game.

Yup, there is no logic to this. The goal of September should be to get guys on a role and limit injuries. Braves NEED BJ to start hitting and he has shown signs lately. Need to feed that as long as possible.

[NYCBrave]

Why is Laird catching? Put Gattis behind the plate and play bossman in CF and Schafer in lf. Makes our team so much better defensively.

Hate it or love it, he's our backup catcher in the playoffs. We can't just not play him, gotta get him some starts down the stretch.

[nsacpi]

Fredi has to find a way to keep everyone sharp and rested. It won't be easy. But here are some things he should consider:

1) Give McCann two games (not two days) a week off. And give Laird and Gattis a start a week at catcher.

2) Give Freeman one game a week off. Start Terdoslavich in that game.

3) Give Justin and BJ one game a week off. Start Schafer for them

4) Until Heyward comes back give Gattis half the games in left, Schafer a quarter and Terdoslavich a quarter.

5) Give Uggla and Chris Johnson one game a week off and start Elliot Johnson for them.

6) Give Simmons one game a week off and start Janish for him.

That should keep everyone sharp and rested.

[sturg33]

This is why people think Fredi is an idiot, despite our record.

[50PoundHead]

Still can't figure out why people bark so much about Laird. He's done what was asked.

[thethe]

Still can't figure out why people bark so much about Laird. He's done what was asked.

You would be ok with him starting in the playoffs?

[NYCBrave]

You would be ok with him starting in the playoffs?

There is a 0% chance he will be asked to start in the playoffs.

[thethe]

There is a 0% chance he will be asked to start in the playoffs.

So its beyond foolish IMO to give him a start in September when Gattis (who will start a game at catcher in the postseason IMO) is available to do so now.

[Krovahn]

I wouldda went:

1. Jordan Schafer (L) RF
2. BJ Upton (R) CF
3. Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
4. Evan Gattis (R) C
5. Joey Terdoslavich (S) LF
6. Elliot Johnson (S) 3B
7. Dan Uggla (R) 2B
8. Paul Janish (R) SS
9. Kameron Loe (R) P

But, that is just me.

[nsacpi]

Still can't figure out why people bark so much about Laird. He's done what was asked.

I agree. He's one of the better backup catchers around. He looks a bit funny and awkward at times. I think some people hold that against him. And the fact he is seen as reducing Gattis' playing time upsets people.

I think Gattis AND Laird should get one start per week at catcher the rest of the way in. We need to rest McCann. I was a little surprised to see McCann play five straight days recently. To me that's about the only questionable thing Fredi has done recently in terms of lineup management.

[nsacpi]

So its beyond foolish IMO to give him a start in September when Gattis (who will start a game at catcher in the postseason IMO) is available to do so now.

I don't think either Gattis or Laird will start a post-season game as long as McCann is healthy. But you need to keep them both in the mix in case the need arises.

[sturg33]

You would be ok with him starting in the playoffs?

You do know that Laird and Gattis have been about equals on offense this year.

[thethe]

You do know that Laird and Gattis have been about equals on offense this year.

I don't agree with that. I know Gattis was absolutely dreadful for two months but you would really rather have Laird up in a big spot over Gattis?

[nsacpi]

I don't agree with that. I know Gattis was absolutely dreadful for two months but you would really rather have Laird up in a big spot over Gattis?

Laird has this amazing ability to dump popups between the second baseman and right fielder. He also has talismanic powers. We are lucky to have three talismanic players this year. It will make us a force in the playoffs.

[Krovahn]

Well, BJ is in there now... Schafer scratched. Probably due to hitting the ball into his leg last night... so, at least BJ can keep getting his ABs right now. Still wouldda rested J-Up, though.