Braves vs Astros Preview

Wright is more useful than Webb. If we have a blowout either way he can eat 4 innings to save the rest of the pen.

Gore is more useful than Carmago since Carmago is intent on batting .000

Gore is a pinch runner, but I don't know where we can deploy him really. maybe if TDA gets on late in a game.. But who are we taking out of the game for him to run for? Not Riley, FF, Dansby, Ozzie. I wouldn't think Duvvy, Soler or Rosario. Maybe Pederson, who they can then use Heredia for..

So I see his usefulness in a way, but would another impact arm or bigger bat be more valuable?
 
Gore is a pinch runner, but I don't know where we can deploy him really. maybe if TDA gets on late in a game.. But who are we taking out of the game for him to run for? Not Riley, FF, Dansby, Ozzie. I wouldn't think Duvvy, Soler or Rosario. Maybe Pederson, who they can then use Heredia for..

So I see his usefulness in a way, but would another impact arm or bigger bat be more valuable?

I would've gone with Pache for that spot. Better late inning defensive replacement than Heredia, and better hitter than Gore in case we need him to bat.
 
Gore is a pinch runner, but I don't know where we can deploy him really. maybe if TDA gets on late in a game.. But who are we taking out of the game for him to run for? Not Riley, FF, Dansby, Ozzie. I wouldn't think Duvvy, Soler or Rosario. Maybe Pederson, who they can then use Heredia for..

So I see his usefulness in a way, but would another impact arm or bigger bat be more valuable?

No because those players don't exist for the Braves.
 
Honestly, i'd imagine Rodriguez has some kind of injury that hasn't been disclosed. He was possibly the biggest trade deadline add and wasn't too bad until his last few outings.

Even in his "good" period with the Braves from the trade deadline to Sept 5. He had a 4.19 FIP. 3.45 K/9 and a 2.30 BB/9

Yes he had a 1.15 ERA in that stretch but it was because of a ridiculous .146 BABIP.

He's just not good at all since the ban on the sticky stuff. Worth a gamble but it didn't work out. Houston would destroy him.
 
Gore is a pinch runner, but I don't know where we can deploy him really. maybe if TDA gets on late in a game.. But who are we taking out of the game for him to run for? Not Riley, FF, Dansby, Ozzie. I wouldn't think Duvvy, Soler or Rosario. Maybe Pederson, who they can then use Heredia for..

So I see his usefulness in a way, but would another impact arm or bigger bat be more valuable?


Gore is only going to be used in the 8th or 9th inning of a game where it's tied or we are trailing by 1. Only with a runner on. If it's the bottom 9 of a home game he'll run for anyone... including FF. Maldanado has a 40% CS% (League Average is 23%)
 
Gore is only going to be used in the 8th or 9th inning of a game where it's tied or we are trailing by 1. Only with a runner on. If it's the bottom 9 of a home game he'll run for anyone... including FF. Maldanado has a 40% CS% (League Average is 23%)

I wonder if he could be called on to bunt in one of our home games for a pitcher. Someone with his speed, I hope he can bunt.
 
Even in his "good" period with the Braves from the trade deadline to Sept 5. He had a 4.19 FIP. 3.45 K/9 and a 2.30 BB/9

Yes he had a 1.15 ERA in that stretch but it was because of a ridiculous .146 BABIP.

He's just not good at all since the ban on the sticky stuff. Worth a gamble but it didn't work out. Houston would destroy him.

A quick look at the spin numbers tells us all we need to know. I still have no idea why they acquired him since that data was readily available before the deadline to everyone with an internet connection.
 
Game 1: Soler DH - Freeman 1B - Albies 2B - Riley 3B - Rosario LF - Duvall CF - d’Arnaud C - Pederson RF - Swanson SS
 
Actual Lineup:

1. Soler DH
2. Freeman 1B
3. Albies 2B
4. Riley 3B
5. Rosario LF
6. Duvall CF
7. d’Arnaud C
8. Pederson RF
9. Swanson SS

The Batting order for us will be interesting in Games 1-2. The DH keeps Snit from having to sit one of the 4 OFs. I'm assuming Soler is the DH and we run the same defensive lineup that we used in the NLCS. The numbers say to bat Soler in #1 spot, but I have a feeling we roll Rosario there until someone show they can get him out in the postseason.

I'd consider going:
1. Rosario
2. Freeman
3. Soler
4. Riley
5. Albies
6. Duvall
7. Pederson
8. d'Arnaud
9. Swanson

That doesn't stack too many of the split heavy guys. I feel like Pederson may be 6th though.

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Looking at their pitching, the entire starting staff has a higher FIP than I expected when I pulled up the stats... it explains the playoff runs allowed this year. I actually feel way better about the matchup than I did before looking at the numbers. No McCullers actually gives us a big pitching advantage.

If we can go through like the NLCS and only use Smith, Matzek, Minter, Chavez, And Jackson if he's not broken. Maybe Smyly if we can squeeze 3 borderline innings out of him.

4 wins = 36 Innings find a way. (It would be nice if Morton or Fried could give us 7 good ones one time this post season.)
 
A quick look at the spin numbers tells us all we need to know. I still have no idea why they acquired him since that data was readily available before the deadline to everyone with an internet connection.

Braves needed bodies at that point. And maybe they hoped whatever magic he had would last bit...and it did. But it's clear he's not someone you want to trust a playoff inning to.
 
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