GDT 8/31/23: Braves vs Dodgers - Third times the charm
- Thread starter Slippyjms
- Start date
Winning the batting title would almost guarantee him the MVP. It also probably keeps him motivated down the stretch.
Be nice to win 3/4 from the dodgers in LA. That would send a hell of a statement.
bravesfanMatt
Steve Harvey'd
In this line up you are splitting hairs imo. Come to realize that the whole lineup could hit second.
Harris' development this year after his horrible start has been wild. K% is down into the teens. Better than league average agaisnt lefties.
He's going to have a monster year next year. Imagine having Acuna and Harris going 30/30 next year back to back.
bravesfanMatt
Steve Harvey'd
Who are the 2 players the Braves will call up today? 1 pitcher. 1 hitter.
Grissom and Lee?
msstate7
Well-known member
Why do we need 2 guys?
I would imagine so. Of course they might call up a 3rd catcher too so TDA/Murphy can pitch hit.
Sept 1 call ups. Roster's expand to 28
msstate7
Well-known member
Damn, I'm dumber than normal
Tapate50
Well-known member
I was grasping too bro. Too many Bushs'
bravesfanMatt
Steve Harvey'd
Lee for sure. Grissom played last night for Gwinnett. I am sure whoever is getting the call is already with team.
Lee and Wall are the call ups
UNCBlue012
Well-known member
I know we're all-in on Ronnie for MVP (and I still think there's a great shot he gets it), but let's try and enjoy this run. He's been masterful and truly historic. What a freaking beast of a player, and he's a member of our Braves for the foreseeable future!
WaitingFor2017
Well-known member
Winning 2 out of the next 3 likely gets the Braves Homefield. They’ll be up 6 games and have the tiebreaker advantage over LA. At that point, you worry about resting guys and trying to hold Baltimore off for best record.
He's hit the 1% of the 1% of his possible outcomes.
The crazy thing about Acuna and I say this in admiration as opposed to criticism - is that he’s already a clear cut top three player in baseball and yet…
…his ground ball and launch angle are by far the worst it’s ever been - and not by a small amount
What I don’t have any knowledge of is are the approach or swing changes yielding the other improvements such as contact, strike outs, going from a 280 to a 330-340 hitter, etc.
But “in theory” the scary thing is he might have one more gear which is basically everything he’s already doing, only getting back to a 45-50 homer pace instead.
In Covid season he has 14 bombs in 160 abs and in 2021 he had 24 in 297. That’s 38 in 457 abs, a 54 homer pace over 650. He’s regressed in that respect to a 35 homer pace.
Point being, there is a version of Acuna that is basically 330+ with 50 bombs and 50 steals. The exit velocity and hard hit rate EASILY profile for a 50+ homer season.
I’d love to know if these ground ball or launch rates were part of a planned swing or approach change that has led to the evolution in other areas or if it’s been a subtle injury related impact that has led to some tweaks (intentional or unintentional in his swing) where there could be room for improvement
It reminds me of lebron around the same age - clear cut best player in the game and yet was equally clear he had an untapped gear as he continued to harness his unworldly talent
Acuna is an unstoppable force but I think his 950-1000 ops has a gear that can be in the 1100+ area with slugging of 650+. Call me greedy…
…his ground ball and launch angle are by far the worst it’s ever been - and not by a small amount
What I don’t have any knowledge of is are the approach or swing changes yielding the other improvements such as contact, strike outs, going from a 280 to a 330-340 hitter, etc.
But “in theory” the scary thing is he might have one more gear which is basically everything he’s already doing, only getting back to a 45-50 homer pace instead.
In Covid season he has 14 bombs in 160 abs and in 2021 he had 24 in 297. That’s 38 in 457 abs, a 54 homer pace over 650. He’s regressed in that respect to a 35 homer pace.
Point being, there is a version of Acuna that is basically 330+ with 50 bombs and 50 steals. The exit velocity and hard hit rate EASILY profile for a 50+ homer season.
I’d love to know if these ground ball or launch rates were part of a planned swing or approach change that has led to the evolution in other areas or if it’s been a subtle injury related impact that has led to some tweaks (intentional or unintentional in his swing) where there could be room for improvement
It reminds me of lebron around the same age - clear cut best player in the game and yet was equally clear he had an untapped gear as he continued to harness his unworldly talent
Acuna is an unstoppable force but I think his 950-1000 ops has a gear that can be in the 1100+ area with slugging of 650+. Call me greedy…
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If Acuña really wants to take his game to the next level he needs to work on his OF defense and his steal efficiency. If Acuña could cut his CS in half and just play average defense in RF look out