GDT 8/20/25 - Braves vs White Sox - Getting More Waldrep Data

[bravesfanMatt]

I think when a pitcher says he can't figure out how his pitches are not as good as they used to be and he doesn't know what to do PUBLICALLY, then he is probably a worse option than any other pitcher who is not publicly saying something like that.

Strider needs to be in the pen to keep throwing, but he doesn't need to be throwing 50-100 every 6 days.. He needs to be on a normal off season routine and occasionally when he would be scheduled to throw a bullpen, he can do that in a game environment.

 

[bravesfanMatt]

Yeah, Elder was recently fine against the Mets, but anybody putting any significant hope in him is just being silly.

He can't be in the rotation next year (and for that matter, although it's not the same deal, even if Reynaldo doesn't like it, I don't think he can be counted on as a major factor in 2026). I'd have to say what I'd probably desire for next year looks like this...

Sale
Schwellenbach
Strider
FA SP
Waldrep

I think Elder needs to be traded for whatever you can get after the end of this year.

I have no desire to see him make 20+ starts ever again.

Trade twit and Elder to a division rival and let them experience twit letting him go 3 times through...

but yes, the Braves need to end the Elder experiment and never look back.

 

[Carp]

Yeah, Elder was recently fine against the Mets, but anybody putting any significant hope in him is just being silly.

He can't be in the rotation next year (and for that matter, although it's not the same deal, even if Reynaldo doesn't like it, I don't think he can be counted on as a major factor in 2026). I'd have to say what I'd probably desire for next year looks like this...

Sale
Schwellenbach
Strider
FA SP
Waldrep

I think Elder needs to be traded for whatever you can get after the end of this year.

I have no desire to see him make 20+ starts ever again.

Elder isn't even tradeable at this point. He needs to be DFA'd. There is no hope there. I think you can comfortably feel more confident in any random AAA arm to come in and provide better performance than Elder.

 

[zbhargrove]

Strider is far more likely to pitch well than Bryce Elder. Over the last 2 years, Elder has the highest ERA (6.36) in baseball with a minimum 150 innings. The next closer pitcher is someone named Slade Cecconi, whose ERA is nearly a full run lower at 5.50

​

Yeah but he was an All-Star

 

[Carp]

Another tidbit.

There are 13 pitchers who have thrown at least 100 innings since the start of 2024 and have an ERA of 5.50 or higher. 3 of those pitchers have pitched for the Braves this season (Elder, Carrasco, and Dunnnig).

 

[Carp]

Yeah but he was an All-Star

Something he'll be able to tell his grandkids one day. Great accomplishment.

 

[zbhargrove]

Something he'll be able to tell his grandkids one day. Great accomplishment.

I do hope the sarcasm was received lol

 

[msstate7]

Yeah, Elder was recently fine against the Mets, but anybody putting any significant hope in him is just being silly.

He can't be in the rotation next year (and for that matter, although it's not the same deal, even if Reynaldo doesn't like it, I don't think he can be counted on as a major factor in 2026). I'd have to say what I'd probably desire for next year looks like this...

Sale
Schwellenbach
Strider
FA SP
Waldrep

I think Elder needs to be traded for whatever you can get after the end of this year.

I have no desire to see him make 20+ starts ever again.

Who said anything about next year? I'm talking strictly this season. I don't think either will be a starter come next June

 

[Carp]

Joey Wentz would have been very close to adding to list above when he came to Atlanta. He had a 5.42 ERA in 101 innings since the start of 2024. He has since dropped that number down to 4.70 in his short time in Atlanta.

 

[msstate7]

It's 3 starts dude. I'm sure Strider is concerned about it. He was tough on himself early in the season when he was giving up 3-4 ER in 6 innings. But his raw stuff is still far better than Elder's. As someone mentioned, he's the only pitcher in baseball with 2 pitches generating a swing and miss rate over 50%.

Elder is the worst pitcher in baseball, bar none. Stats back that up.

Strider's tone before was more I have to do better and I know I can do better. Now it's I have to be better, and I'm not sure I can be

 

[Tapate50]

Elders just doing his part for the tank.

Shame no one else got the message.

 

[Tapate50]

Strider needs time to work with a shop like driveline for a bit. Can’t do that throwing 100 every 5 days.

He should be ok.

 

[MadduxFanII]

I'm not going into doom mode on Strider at this point, but I think he could probably benefit from sitting out a turn in the rotation or two. He's been through a lot over the last couple years, and he's a really thoughtful guy -- that's almost always a good thing, but there's always a danger that he'll get into his head, grow a little obsessive and get caught in a doom loop. It seems like he might be in one now. So let him take a breather, reset mentally and give him a chance to come back to the problem with fresh eyes.

 

[DirkPiggler]

I'm not going into doom mode on Strider at this point, but I think he could probably benefit from sitting out a turn in the rotation or two. He's been through a lot over the last couple years, and he's a really thoughtful guy -- that's almost always a good thing, but there's always a danger that he'll get into his head, grow a little obsessive and get caught in a doom loop. It seems like he might be in one now. So let him take a breather, reset mentally and give him a chance to come back to the problem with fresh eyes.

Let's be realistic. There will be no playoff baseball involving the Braves this year. If he thinks he needs to sit to get right for 2026, by all means sit him, even if it means Luke Williams is taking his spot in the rotation. Every roster and playing time decision the remainder of the year needs to be focused on 2026 and beyond.

 

[mfree80]

My prediction for Elder is continuing to languish in AAA and be ready to be called up as the ninth option as an emergency starter.

 

[Hudson2]

I'm not really worried about Strider. The season is lost and the guys all know it. Now if this is happening next year after a full offseason then yeah it's panic time. Make him the closer at that point even if it pisses him off. Snit has to go first bc I don't trust him to do anything bc he lets the players make their own decisions.

 

[jpx7]

Sure it's a small sample

Many of your posts begin with this premise (and overreact from there).

 

[msstate7]

]

Let's be realistic. There will be no playoff baseball involving the Braves this year. If he thinks he needs to sit to get right for 2026, by all means sit him, even if it means Luke Williams is taking his spot in the rotation. Every roster and playing time decision the remainder of the year needs to be focused on 2026 and beyond.

Well if strider doesn't show improvement to end this season, how can you plan on him being a starter in 2026? I don't think you can.

 

[msstate7]

Many of your posts begin with this premise (and overreact from there).

I started calling strider done when I heard the radio broadcast the other night. I've never heard a pro athlete basically say they have no answers. Radio painted a grim picture after talking to him. They were talking about how he may have to learn another pitch to stick around bc the fastball just isn't good anymore... and the main point was it wasn't the velocity, it's the rise. The rise is gone

 

[IowaBrave14]

My prediction for Elder is continuing to languish in AAA and be ready to be called up as the ninth option as an emergency starter.

Thinking the same, and hoping he is killing it down there enough early next year that someone gets interested.