Maikel Franco homered in the 5th off Luiz Gohara, the only oasis in what was otherwise 7 innings of a Gohara desert for the Phillies.
Luiz allowed 5 hits and 2 walks along with the run, and struck out 9. Â The Phillies tacked on a run in the 8th against A.J. Minter. Â The Braves made it interesting in the 9th with a couple of ground balls up the middle by Freddie Freeman and Kurt Suzuki, but around those singles, Hector Neris struck out 3.
Someone named Nick Pivetta went 6 innings for the Phillies, allowing 5 hits and a walk, and striking out 4. Â Ender Inciarte had 3 hits, giving him 197 on the season. Â The Freeze ran down Paul Byrd in the heavily promoted match race.
The Braves close their first season at SunTrust Park at 37 – 44, yet still stand 9 games in front of the Phloatin’ Phils after taking the series 2 games to 1. Â Doubleheader Monday against the Mets; the first game starts at 4:10.
(Has anyone used Gohara desert yet? Â If so, I apologize.)
The 3rd funniest thing I ever heard about Philadelphia: Â Lasorda Vs. Phanatic
Good game, poor result, excellent recap. Gohara Desert, hah!
Seems that Kurt Suzuki has signed a 1-year deal with Atlanta. So we’ll have our tandem back. After this year’s performance I don’t think anyone will mind that at all.
Thanks Coop.
Happy to say that I couldn’t have been more wrong about the catching situation.
Interesting Coppy interview over at ajc.com:
http://tinyurl.com/ydxxonjw
Coppy calling the bulk of his team “castoffs” should go down well in the clubhouse.
Yeah, calling out some random guys like Joel De La Cruz was weird. Bonifacio got a pass, though.
@4 I really hate how Coppy poor-mouths the 2017 Braves while failing to ever owning up to the fact that (a) he built the 2017 Braves, so a lot of that is HIS FAULT and (b) he tried mightily to sell the 2017 Braves as a potential winning team (despite all evidence to the contrary) ahead of the 2017 season, and as soon as it was clear the team wasn’t a contender he simply chose to change the sales pitch from “the rebuild is over! we’re a winner now!” to “the rebuild is going well! come check out our promising young players alongside our Proven Veterans as we build for the future! Next year’s the year, this time I mean it!” without any reckoning about the fact that he was blatantly wrong in his pre-season statements.
Also, Coppy both denies that the team is trying to acquire a big power bat “We don’t want to be the team that gets the big-name player as a free agent” or a TOR arm via FA “It’s safe to say we won’t be playing in big free-agent pitching waters” so… get ready for the Braves to resign Dickey and bring in some rebound/project/discount veterans for the rotation and bullpen again.
All in all, I don’t think Coppy has done a bad job on the rebuild – but I do have hard feelings towards the fact that he’s doing a B- job while acting like he’s doing an A+ job, and he blames the shortcomings of his design on others. Have a little humility, man up, give your audience some credit, etc. Coppy just kind of rubs me the wrong way.
Rusty S
you alone…masterful.
@7, I don’t see how you can grade a rebuild until it’s…well…actually rebuilt. We’re not much different than the Phillies. Are they getting kudos galore for their rebuild?
Krussell – my assignment of a grade was not meant to be taken as my literal, final grade on the rebuild, really it was a placeholder for my perception that Coppy presents the rebuild in an unrealistically positive light in a tone that I find irritating.
As far as the Phils go – I’ve got no idea what people are saying about their rebuild. On the positive side, the Phillies have developed a TOR starter (Nola), a closer (Neris) and they have four legit OF now – Herrera, Hoskins, Altherr and Williams. On the negative side, the Phils lack major league depth and their minor league system is only so-so. I’d take the Braves over the Phillies going forward, but then again I think the Phillies started out their rebuild in a much worse position than the Braves did – they had far fewer valuable assets to sell off.
“We’re doing it with kids.” – John Coppolella
^^New Braves Journal tagline.
@11, lol
@10, they have one huge advantage over us – more money to spend, and a willingness to spend it (I think).
@11 Haha.
@12 The Phils have now cleared out all dead weight from their payroll – check it out, the only long-term contract they have on the books right now is Odubel Herrera, who’s owed $3.35M next year. A few guys are in their arb years (Hernandez, Galvis, Siegrist, Rupp, Franco, Henderson Alvarez) and the rest of their roster (including most of their best players – Nola, Hoskins, Altherr, Neris and Williams) are all making near the major league minimum.
I dunno what the Phils’ plans are, but they were spending around $170M/year average from 2011-14. They could make one hell of a splash this off season if they’re so inclined. I bet they’ll be looking hard at Otani and Darvish.
Plus the Nats will clear Werth’s $21M salary this year, and then Harper’s $21M salary after next year. So they’ll be big spenders at some point as well.
It does make you wonder why they compounded Olivera’s $6M per year for 5 years (2 of which would be gone now) to saddle with $18M per for 2 1/2 years. You would think even the future value of money would make $6M per over 5 palpable than $18M per for 2 1/2, let alone the simple fact of the total commitment. They clearly thought Kemp wouldn’t have been a -0.4 fWAR player in 2017, leaving minimal hope for 2018 and 2019. If they just ate Olivera’s deal, they’d have an extra $12M per for those 3 years, then would have been on the hook for $6M in 2020 and 2021, and who knows what the value of that money would be with the way revenues have escalated.
Not an especially reassuring interview from Coppy there IMO. He seems much more interested in the rebuild than in actually winning baseball games (now or at any defined point in the future), and much less interested in winning baseball games now than he was even six months ago.
I do wish Mark Bradley had asked him, “So, uhhhh…when are you actually going to try to win? Isn’t that kind of the point here?” But let’s be honest, this is Mark Bradley we’re talking about.
In where Tommy, Stephen, and I discuss our picks for manager in 2018.
http://blog.walkoffwalk.net/2017/09/walk-off-talk-110-search-committee.html
I miss this:
http://deadspin.com/andrelton-simmons-creates-an-incredibly-satisfying-defe-1818728780
Not sure if any of you live close enough for me to live vicariously through you, but this looks like a ton of fun! Wiffleball League at the Battery! http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=atlWiffle
Hey, at least Coppy has learned (belatedly) how to lower expectations.
@ 19 : As many times as I’ve seen Andrelto highlights,he still manages to amaze me. That move to run into the middle of the rundown in order to control the ball for the throw to home was brilliant. I’ve never seen anything like it.
Add me to the people that don’t see the productivity in throwing specific players under the bus. I appreciate his candor, but I don’t see the benefit.
“Rumors of Coppy’s greatness have been greatly exaggerated” Mark Twain.
Snitker will be back next year. The front office isn’t convinced the Braves will be competitive so why bring in a shiny new manager? If the Braves start 5-20, Snitker’s an easy sacrificial lamb. If they start 20-5, they look like geniuses. Fire him and hire a new manager and then continue to fail? Eventually, Coppy & Hart can’t keep passing the buck.
@25, excellent point. You only get to play the “fire the manager card” once.
@19, Makes me wanna weep…
@20, Oh man. I would totally join if I could.
@23, Add me to the list, too. Tacky. What did Jose De La Cruz and the other guys mentioned deserve that for? They didn’t force their way onto the field; the Braves brought them on to the field and I presume they pitched to the best of their ability.
@25, I think you’re right on the money with that analysis.
I have to agree with Coppy that now isn’t the time to open up the checkbooks and trade prospects to fill holes. When we get to be a .500 team at the trade deadline and in striking distance of a playoff spot is when we should start doing that. For now, it is best to graduate our prospects and see who can fill holes that way instead of bringing in guys like Markakis who do little but cost money and block prospects.
We’ve been a .500 team (or close to it) near trade deadline twice now under Coppy’s tenure. I’m not saying that those teams were good or would justify being aggressive buyers…but…we’ve met that criteria, and we’ve sold off everything not locked down.
I don’t know who is really to blame for Markakis and Kemp, but the length of those contracts is pretty much what defines when our competitive window can really start to open. I’m going to blame Coppy because he’s the one that’s in charge.
Well, that has to be something of a sad record. A whole game goes by, a win too, without a post here while it played out. Surely not the nitecap also.
@19, Unbelievable.
I came here to agree with @27.
@8 – Thanks blazon.
A rare treat tonight from NY – their audio available on MLB Extra Innings with the Gary guy and both Hernandez and Darling. Hernandez still looks like he could play first, running in on the bunt. Most aggressive first baseman i ever saw.
Max Fried is living dangerously but aren’t we all. 97 though.
@28. I contend that until we open up the checkbooks we will go as far as the Lucas Sims and Johan Camargos will take us which is not far.
I’m not saying those players don’t have roles. But until Liberty spends money and more importantly money wisely (aka not on a corner OF that can’t hit 10 HR a season or one that literally can’t run to 1B) we’re going to be in that 70-92 to 75-87 range. The ‘farm’ is good enough to not be absolutely atrocious, 60-102 or the like, but not good enough to be a contender.
When we get to be a .500 team at the trade deadline and in striking distance of a playoff spot is when we should start doing that.
krussell’s point is also correct, but there’s also the point that you may not get to .500 if you don’t add the pieces it takes to get there. If I were a rebuilding team, this is the criteria I would use to “go for it”:
-Top farm system. Check.
-Several above average players on the roster making a manageable set of money cumulatively. 10-12. Check.
-Enough prospects ready for major league action that you don’t have enough room. Check.
-Good enough showing to not be without hope in the previous season. Check.
-Enough payroll to make a splash. Check.
-(For mid-market teams) Not so much dead contract weight that it isn’t potentially advantageous to wait until you don’t have any excess weight dragging you down. Can’t check this box.
Maybe you take another year, trade some of the high minors level for low level talent, and wait until Markakis and JJ are off the books? The real albatross is Kemp, though, and he’s signed for 2 more years. And frankly, if you don’t want to contend because Nicholas William Markakis is making too much coin, then pack up your crap and go home, Atlanta Braves. You suck.
Will they “go for it” this offseason when there’s still so much uncertainty about the pitching staff? If we wait for all the stars to align to add one or two key pieces, we’ll probably never get there.
They are going to have to commit to spending more, regardless of how the pitching turns out. If the pitching part of the rebuild fails then we’re gonna be in trouble either way. You might as well assume it’s going to work, and plan for success. I think they have to start spending big as soon as this December.
So…terrible team will continue to be terrible. Good to know.
I agree. You can’t wait for 5 SP prospects to each throw 5 fWAR seasons before you decide you’re “all in”. One nice thing about this September is the quality pitching of the rotation, and that should give confidence going into next year. I think I’ve seen enough of Gohara (cover your eyes, Adam R.) to think that his 2.90 FIP is something we can build off of. He may not turn that into a 2.90 ERA next year, but I’d think you’d have to pencil him into a 2018 rotation.
Prospect FIPs:
Gohara – 2.90 in 23 IP
Newcomb – 4.26 in 95 IP
Folty – 4.33 in 154 IP
Teheran’s is a paltry 4.92, so while his ERA moves from its abysmal level, it’s hard to know what they’ve got there.
To be fair, it’s hard to judge Snitker’s moves without knowing if he’s been told to find out once and for all if this guy can play or not, showcase guys for trades, or what. I’d like to see him get a year where it was clear his objective was to try to win, and see how he manages.
@39
Sims to be added to that list when IP meet the criteria. No doubter.
Last night, second game.
Whacko stuff, great fun. Greatly aided by reminisces and humor from Hernandez/Darling.They both said, affectionately,Mets should have won 10-2 but for our 4 double plays early and hilarious base running and throwing errors by the young Mets. What did you all make of Fried? A Keystone Cop display from Lane Adams in left that left Kemp/Matt in the dust.
Felt for Adonis. Ignored right now, not got his stroke back, yet awed the booth with bullet throws to start 2 of the DP’s. Will always have a soft spot for him, would have no problem with him on the bench next year, we know he can hit to all fields. He carries himself with great dignity, a proud man who palpably wants to contribute. Lane seems to collapse if he’s a starter.
QUIZ QUESTION(NLU)
Which college pitcher who went on to a successful ML career got to earn the lovely nick of ‘Sweet Music’ and what was the game that made him famous early? See above.
recapped.
Ender Inciarte
one ninety nine, get ready to party
says Charlie B, that tennis second serve
so soft, to try to add it i’d likely lose my nerve.