Wanted to play this, this week,  for a couple of obvious topical reasons. And it’s my favorite Jimmy Webb /Campbell song. Peace to him and succor to all those damaged.

 

A good game of baseball tonight. Up and down, good and bad, tight all the way through until that last double play. I discovered, watching it, I don’t mind losing so much if i get to see Ossie in full flow, he was magical again tonight. Right at this moment he is our star, outperforming Freddie et al, he’s the at bat that we all stop talking for to watch. It will not last forever of course, by its nature it’s ephemeral, but we are indulged while it does. Mr Acuna will not have it all his own way for our attention when, finally, he does show up…what fun that is going to be. I resent we have been kept waiting this long.

Newk was Newk until the 5th when he got tired, presumably, and got bombed for 4 runs. So why is he tired, so young and strong. 94 pitches , 5k, only 2 walks which is by far his lowest total. But. He had thrown 63 of them after only 3 innings versus Freeland’s 41. And when you watch and try to analyze what’s going on it’s clear he is throwing far too many ‘pointless’ pitches where the batter can see in good time the ball will not threaten the strike zone and is enough away from him to leave it alone. By my unofficial count 20 % of his pitches were in that category. It is a literal complete waste of effort,  he does it significantly more often to RHBatters than lefties. Long counts and the usual 0 and 2 problems. He gets tired. But very well done about the 2 walks.

Wisler was fine , Winkler managed but Viz had nothing tonight and lost us the game in the 9th. Back to back bombs. Where on earth was Minter when the Pen began to creak? Is he still up? His appearance would hafe killed two birds with one stone – better pitches and an excitement factor for all of us. Where was he?

Our own hitters had a good night and nearly pulled it out in the bottom of the 9th when Big City reminded us all why he should be kept around and smacked a twofer with Ozzie on but we fell one short.
Ozzie ended up with 3 hits including a triple and a double. Swanson, Inciarte, Phillips had two singles each, Flowers and Freddie went hitless.

There’s not much wrong with the sum total of all this if we place it in the context of where we are and why. Good and bad. We are the Atlanta Braves. And he is Ozzie Albies. And he is ours. I am starstruck.

 

https://www.mlb.com/gameday/rockies-vs-braves/2017/08/26/492025#game_state=final,game_tab=box,game=492025