Will the Braves Win the East?

[younggun308]

This team looks dangerous since the trade deadline. No holes in the offensive lineup right now, and the defensive infield truly might be the best in baseball. Only question mark is some of the young starting pitching (especially with Huscar Ynoa coming back off the IL), but Touki Touissant was able to pitch 7 innings last night, so even there things are headed the right direction.

Mets schedule and deGrom's absence suggests they'll drop like a stone in the standings, but the Phillies have the easiest strength of schedule in the NL coming up. And the Braves are only 1.5 games ahead as of this morning.
Who takes it?

 

[TreyB]

Phillies are gonna be tough but the Braves go on winning streaks pretty routinely

 

[Hduke86]

The Braves are hitting their stride at the right time. I don't care how hot you are during the season cause at some point your team is going to run flat. I think the Braves are firing on all cylinders right now and it's going to make for a good run. I can't wait till they hold the World Series trophy this year. Lol I know putting the cart before the horse but I can dream

 

[Buzzard Breath]

Yes. Next question please. That one was too easy.

 

[younggun308]

Now that I saw Huascar Ynoa's FIRST START back from the IL last night result in 5.1 innings of shutout ball (doesn't matter that it was just the lowly Marlins), I'm very optimistic.

 

[younggun308]

Snitker tried to outthink himself last night letting the Marlins, of all teams, crawl back to having the winning run at the plate after starting the 9th up 6. Hopefully it keeps him from using long relievers to close games from now on.

I don't like Will Smith's tendency to give up the long ball and walks. Unlike Luke Jackson, his slider is almost never thrown for a strike (unless it's a hanger). Falls behind in the count all the time. Really wish Rodriguez were given the 9th from now on.

 

[Hduke86]

Snitker tried to outthink himself last night letting the Marlins, of all teams, crawl back to having the winning run at the plate after starting the 9th up 6. Hopefully it keeps him from using long relievers to close games from now on.

I don't like Will Smith's tendency to give up the long ball and walks. Unlike Luke Jackson, his slider is almost never thrown for a strike (unless it's a hanger). Falls behind in the count all the time. Really wish Rodriguez were given the 9th from now on.

No joke, I almost had to buy a new tv last night. It was cool to see Freddie hit for the cycle. The man seems like a good dude.

 

[younggun308]

No joke, I almost had to buy a new tv last night. It was cool to see Freddie hit for the cycle. The man seems like a good dude.

Yeah, it inspired me to finish watching ESPN's hourlong feature on him that I'd recorded awhile back. Happened to be driving to the store but heard Joe's call on the radio when Freddie hit the homer to cap it off. As excited as I can recall hearing him.

 

[gobblegrunt]

AA did a great job at the trade deadline. He put this team on course to win the NL East for sure. The real question is, cam they beat the Padres or the Reds in a wild card matchup.

 

[Antler Daddy]

Lucky in my book....bullpen stinks.

Keep Freddie, Albies, Riley, Acuna, and Swanson....trade the rest for all I care.

 

[younggun308]

AA did a great job at the trade deadline. He put this team on course to win the NL East for sure. The real question is, cam they beat the Padres or the Reds in a wild card matchup.

If they win their division, they don't have to play in the wild card game, thankfully. Since the 2011 CBA, if you win your division, you automatically advance to the NLDS.
Since we'd probably be seeded #2 or #3, we might not have the worst schedule, right out the gate.

How about Max Fried tonight?! Stud pitched a complete game shutout tonight!

 

[gobblegrunt]

If they win their division, they don't have to play in the wild card game, thankfully. Since the 2011 CBA, if you win your division, you automatically advance to the NLDS.
Since we'd probably be seeded #2 or #3, we might not have the worst schedule, right out the gate.

How about Max Fried tonight?! Stud pitched a complete game shutout tonight!

Fried pitched a gem for sure. What I was saying is can the Braves beat one of the wildcard teams in the NL west. That is a very tough division! Looks like the Braves may play against the Brewers in the NLDS in the 2 vs 3 matchup. The Brewers in my opinion are a World Series Contender.

 

[Hduke86]

Fried pitched a gem for sure. What I was saying is can the Braves beat one of the wildcard teams in the NL west. That is a very tough division! Looks like the Braves may play against the Brewers in the NLDS in the 2 vs 3 matchup. The Brewers in my opinion are a World Series Contender.

If the Braves continue on playing like they are I say they have a good chance of making a deep run and Fried was crazy good last night. He could've pitched a doubleheader yesterday and not broke a sweat how he was knocking them down.

 

[THEdonkey0515]

imagine this team with a healthy Mike Soroka and Acuna right now.

 

[younggun308]

imagine this team with a healthy Mike Soroka and Acuna right now.

With Soroka I'm sorry to say it's been so long now that I about cannot remember what it was like.

 

[younggun308]

I am done with Will Smith as closer. You expect your guy in the 9th will occasionally give up solo shots.

There's nothing occasional about Smith's giving up solos, these days.

 

[THEdonkey0515]

With Soroka I'm sorry to say it's been so long now that I about cannot remember what it was like.

Agree he may never be the same .

But the last time we seen a healthy soroka to remind what it was like

13-4..... 2.6era braves won 76% of his starts 175 innings piched 142 strike outs and was getting cy young talk.

 

[CrossVolle]

Lucky in my book....bullpen stinks.

Keep Freddie, Albies, Riley, Acuna, and Swanson....trade the rest for all I care.

To spite the optics, and i get your observations, the bullpen as a whole has been really good since the acquisition of Rodriguez.

 

[CrossVolle]

Agree he may never be the same .

But the last time we seen a healthy soroka to remind what it was like

13-4..... 2.6era braves won 76% of his starts 175 innings piched 142 strike outs and was getting cy young talk.

With his easy delivery and natural movement on his fastball, i think he is gonna be just fine once they get him completely healed. He's a big strong dude that isn't a max effort guy to begin with. Adam Wainwright had the same injury and he's pitched for about 35 years now lol

 

[younggun308]

Adam Wainwright had the same injury and he's pitched for about 35 years now lol

I think the special concern for Soroka is he re-injured it at the late stage of coming back. Not sure Waino had such a setback.

 

[CrossVolle]

I think the special concern for Soroka is he re-injured it at the late stage of coming back. Not sure Waino had such a setback.

That's certainly a valid concern.

 

[THEdonkey0515]

I am done with Will Smith as closer. You expect your guy in the 9th will occasionally give up solo shots.

There's nothing occasional about Smith's giving up solos, these days.

it does feel like smith has blown 15 saves this year

I just looked at his stats 28 saves (tied for 3ed) 4 blown saves . Tied for 4th in total save percentage with 87.1

What really hurts is the guy who is #1 in both categories the braves let walk after last season. But even he has more blown saves with 5

 

[Hduke86]

Just like Will Smith giving up homers in the 9th

 

[Hduke86]

What a catch to end the game!

 

[CrossVolle]

it does feel like smith has blown 15 saves this year

I just looked at his stats 28 saves (tied for 3ed) 4 blown saves . Tied for 4th in total save percentage with 87.1

What really hurts is the guy who is #1 in both categories the braves let walk after last season. But even he has more blown saves with 5

Very few clean innings from that guy lately. Its a tough spot for any manager. It will cost you big at some point you just have to hope its not at nut cutting time.