There was no irony in the juxtaposition of the grandeur that surrounded the State’s goodbye to a great man around midday today and our little baseball game to be played in Georgia a few hours later. The latter perfectly exemplifies the former as we should all know and we were particularly heartened to find out just how much he loved the game himself. Vale.
And so we must resume our critical and laudatory faculties while there is still some point to them. These are random. A coincidence then that the two errors that cost us last night’s game were perpetrated by the same two guys who looked worse at the plate in general and specifically, at crucial at bats, failed us? We have been carrying both for some time, they are hurting us, most every night. One non-Marlins HR since July 1 as we enter September? July? Ozzie is sadder, he’s so much younger. he manifests his pain. To go from so good to so bad so quickly must feel awful.
Acuna/Ender/Camargo/FloSuki/Swanson – these guys can hit from time to time, impressively – pour encourager les autres, hopefully. We are in their debt.
Enough already, before you all disappear, let’s do tonight’s game with a totally open mind, promise. Just found out that we are adding three pitchers for September – Touki/Bryse/ Mr. Kyle Wright. It is believed two of them can actually hit which is the best news of the week. But where is Riley?
10.08pm…STAND BY https://youtu.be/EadIvDAWkf8
Well, ask and you shall receive. We all asked. In fact we’ve been asking for a week or more. Down 2, then 3, late, Dansby leads off the 5th with a homer. In the all important 8th Duda pinch hits a lead off double to the far right corner, Lane Adams pinch runs and moves to third on Acuna’s line drive out to right field. Ender’s strike out was muffed by Cervelli far away enough for Ender to get to first but, more importantly, Lane Adams rushed in to score. We were behind no more.
Freddie, bless him, after another awful night , served a pitch beautifully over the off side infield . Nick moved him to third. Camargo lashed a line drive which was caught by the RF for the first out. Freddie did not hesitate and rushed in to score the go ahead run. Dansby somehow appeared from somewhere to score the 5th run, the fourth of the inning. All this damage was to Kela who had been untouchable the night before. It was all a little overwhelming after the arid, repetitive, narrow losses of the preceding week.
AJ did not mess about, got them 1/2/3 albeit helped by 2 plays by the impeccable Camargo. I don’t know what we are going to do with Riley but he ain’t playing there, ever. Lane Adams is still shredding his fingernails. Lucas Duda appeared on cue looking like a ruddy faced, happy farmer polishing an apple. Charlie was so happy, dreadful error.
So that’s how you stop a horror show guys. Write half your recap ahead of the game and entertain nothing but a win. I told you so. Love saying that.
https://www.mlb.com/gameday/pirates-vs-braves/2018/09/01/531443#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=box,game=531443
for some reason, probably the excitement, my two links in the piece do not seem to be ‘alive’
Perhaps some kind soul could breathe on them for me if that’s possible.
The first is the EJ song half way through at the 10.08 time check, the other the game summary stats from MLB off the end.
I highly doubt that we will see Riley this year. If they were serious about this option, they would have done it couple weeks ago.
Matt Kemp has just hit a three run homer in the 8th against the DBacks who were ahead 2-0 all evening. He had started the game, not pinch hitting, left field. Hit .214 in August.
@2
Hope you’re wrong but understood. My point was ‘ever’.
@4. Next year we will see Mr Riley for sure. Probably he will be called up at around the same time Acuna called up this year. The way Snit manages things I am sure there will be enough at bats for him without actually needing to officially bench anyone.
@timo
Hey, hope you got to see all that! Happy ending for a much needed change. Swanson’s role was understated, he has become a rock for us, i was so wrong. Used to say, int al, he couldn’t make a decent tag under pressure, So this week we got an out when he literally swept a runner off second who had beaten him comfortably to the bag. And again last night there was a tense play at second which he won. A bientot, mon ami. Keep those middle of our night posts coming.
@ coop… hope you are well…howd’ya feel now about Dansby, he got it all started last night, didn’t he?
@kc 2
Ok, can we then all agree that this is all about Riley’s service time and nothing else? We’ve been moving people up and down for weeks , making the necessary adjustments re 25/40 man totals. We have pitching coming out the wazoo yet middle of the offense hitting that has been shown to be horribly vulnerable. We have a worn out Neck in right field he will eventually replace next year who could sure use a rest right now.
We’re in a tense stretch run, his bat would make everything that little more solid.
Isn’t that worthy of bringing him up? Don’t understand.
I just don’t think Riley is ready. His K rate scares me. I don’t see how he is better than Johan and Dansby at this moment, and I don’t want to use August and September to find out when we are in the thick of the race.
So the difference of opinion is whether he is ready or not. Personally I think he needs couple more months in AAA before it’s worth the chance of giving him a try. The braves are probably thinking similarly judging from their actions.
Understood. No, he’s not in their class. But to pinch hit and give Neck some time off, perfect i would say. That’s a significant September contribution , no? Cheers.
With all the pining for Riley, he has 12 homeruns and an 826 ops at Gwinnett. This is pretty good but with a little bit of decline going to the majors this year, I hardly see him as a difference maker. As noted, the strikeouts are concerning. He needs more time.
Slightly less doomed.
Doom level has receded slightly.
“Doom” is “mood” spelled backward.
Go, Braves!
Starter hasn’t been announced for tomorrow’s game. Touki may go from starting against the Marlins to the Red Sox. He started on the 28th so he’d be in line. Wilson and Wright have since worked in relief.
In other news. Wilson and Wright were last used on Friday, so you’d think they’d be available going forward. Freeman has been used 3 of the last 4 days, so Snit is trying to kill him again.
Braves win. Gators win. Phils lose. Vols lose. Sorry, Smitty, love you.
Touki will indeed start tomorrow, per Jim Bowden.
Riley has no where to play this year. Next year will be interesting. There’s no way they are moving Camargo from 3B unless he slumps for like half a year. LF will be his best bet.
I would think Riley, Dansby, or Camargo gets traded. Camargo will be a 3+ WAR player by season end, so he would end up being a big part of a trade should they go that route. I doubt Riley plays the outfield. I’d think they’ll spend some money out there.
You may be right. It’s hard to see them slotting in yet another rookie into a starting everyday position. Especially given that a full year of Camargo might be 4+ WAR. If they trade Inciarte then Riley might factor into LF. Otherwise yeah, he gone.
@6 blazon, great recap. Just arrived in the US and heading to Atlanta tomorrow for two games against the Red Sox. Can’t wait. Should be exciting.
And you’re right on. Dansby has shown what we all had hoped for him the past ten days or so. Great to see him come through like that. Also, he’s still only 24. We tend to forget that with all the Acunas and Ozzie’s.
Riley’s best chance would be moving to the OF to replace Markakis. But I wouldn’t be surprised to see Riley traded and the Braves trading for or signing an established big name OF.
As long as Gammons isn’t having another BS session, then Toronto can go flying screw themselves. Mad about AA? Don’t hire Shapiro. How’s that worked out, Jays?
Riley is and will be better than Camargo. Period. His minors stats exceed anything Donaldson or Suarez ever did at a few years younger. You guys are only fixed on what you see in front of your faces. Riley is 21 yo. He is the third best 3B prospect in all of baseball right behind Vlad Jr and Senzel. Camargo has the potential to be another Ben Zobrist – one of the best Super UTIL in all of baseball.
I guarantee that Riley will eventually be starting at 3rd and regularly hitting 30 HRs per year. His recent stat line for the last month is far better than you guys are giving him credit for. He should have been called up and installed at 3B to see what kind of boost he can give the offense for the rest of the year. If it was anything like what Dansby did two years ago it will be a blessing.
I agree, though, at this point, it looks like they’re trying to play service time games with Riley and he may follow Acuna’s trajectory next year.
What’s odd is that with 8 or 9 legitimate SPs, why are they not playing the same service time games with Wright? I’m guessing he will be at AAA longer next year than Riley to get to the same place. They seem to be committing to Touki now so I expect next year’s beginning rotation to be Folty, Newk, Gaus, Soroka, and Touki. Wilson and Wright and Allard will be held down until service time considerations are eliminated. Of course, Touki is also the only one eligible for Rule 5, too. Teheran and maybe 2 of Allard/Wilson/Gohara will likely be traded in a blockbuster.
Camargo is putting up an 800+ OPS *right now*, while playing better defense than Riley will ever play. Riley has nowhere to play. Should they call him up to give him 10 MLB at bats? His value is higher if we don’t start his clock.
Will Riley be better than Camargo 3 years from now? I dunno, it’s quite possible. But all that matters is the present.
Riley will *never* be as good of a defensive 3b as Camargo.
Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t there a Sunday game against the Nationals in D.C. a few years ago with a 5:00 PM start time, and the Braves announcers (Simpson) sat around complaining about how crappy it was of the Nationals to have a 5:00 PM start time, that it was the latest start time allowed by MLB for day games on getaway day or whatever? Will they be complaining about the chosen start time in Atlanta today?
Gabe Burns says that Flaherty has joined the team. No word on who is moved off the 40 man roster yet.
It’s obvious the Braves think a lot of Kyle Wright. We already had a roster crunch and he didn’t have to be added. The Braves already had a surplus of starters to call up who already were on the 40 man roster.
@27, That seems like a drastic measure to fix Markakis, but…ok. Let’s hope it works.
Reed to 60-day to make room.
Cubs up 8-0 on Phils. With that said, Julio Teheran is pitching for us.
Flaherty has to have The Pictures. No other plausible explanation remains.
Braves still fixated on Realmuto – – along with everyone else.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/09/heymans-latest-machado-yanks-tribe-harper-realmuto-braves-mauer.html
Yeah, Reed is a better player than Flaherty. The only thing Flaherty can theoretically do that not many others can is play the middle IF (though he hasn’t done so all season).
Bad Julio.
Damn that Julio. Two outs and then twp strikes to two hitters only to get two walks and a single to go down one. He should have been out of the inning in less than 10 pitches. Dangit.
Dang Ronald!
Acuña just hit one to Rome.
He is a machine. Wow. And he’s so patient so what is the league going to do to him now?
If it weren’t for Ronald, we’d have no offense at all.
Another big bomb. Acuna Matata.
Phillies lost again.
The Reds just sold Preston Tucker back to the Braves.
We have acquired Tucker for almost nothing twice. And because he had been on the roster previously, he can be on the playoff roster, right?
Grant McAuley says no. But I don’t think he would have been a consideration anyway. But he is an extra pinch hitter for now.
How would he not be? I can’t imagine any part of the bench other than Culberson and Flowzuki is set in stone.
Booth: GET OFF MY LAWN!!!!!!
Yes, the booth is once again embarrassing itself. Interesting statement:
Chip: I know this may seem like “get off my lawn” syndrome to upstairs…
Is “upstairs” the FO? Sounds like the FO has criticized them for their curmudgeonly attitudes. I can’t see Joe being back next year.
Paul Byrd is probably like, “You guys know why I’m here, right?”
45 — Because they already have Lucas Duda and can’t carry another guy on the bench who can only play one or two positions.
Who gets bumped from the 40-man for Tucker? If no one, then he is just going to be in the minors.
The worst thing to ever happen to Ozzie was hitting 20 homers in the early months. Has horribly influenced his approach at the plate.
But, his young and here’s to hoping they’ll get him turned around. Acuna and Albies at the top could be deadly for the next 12 years
49 — I’d imagine McCreery or Parsons.
With such a large pitching staff, all of our starters should be on a short leash if they get in trouble.
80 pitches through 6 IP.
Solid.
Love seeing the Good Julio every now and then.
Six good innings for Teheran. That’s the height of the expectations I have for him.
I’m not saying it’s anything more than barely possible, but I would think someone like Adams or Tucker or — gasp — Flaherty could hit their way onto the postseason roster even at this point and Duda and/or Duvall could hit their way off. Like I said, I think only Flowzuki and Charlie are locks. We may not even have the same roster from hypothetical round to round.
I may be in the minority, but with the collective lack of success by Fried, Gohara, Wisler, Sims, and Parsons out of the pen, I have some concern about throwing Wilson or Wright into high leverage situations out of the pen. They are a cut above most of those previously mentioned guys, though.
Apparently the Braves would have to petition MLB to have Tucker on the roster and be approved.
Jose Ramirez — the one that’s having a 8.0 fWAR season and used to play 3B for the Indians — is being moved to 2B and Kipnis is being moved to the outfield to accommodate Josh Donaldson. I thought I was talking a little crazy saying that they should move some of our guys around for him. That’s… bold.
Julio 2 K’s away from 1000.
Did ya’ll watch Smoltz hit 3000 live? I want to say it was a Saturday or Sunday day game vs the Nationals.
Looking forward to Smoltzie’s HOF speech. One of a kind.
Need to get the bullpen working ASAP.
Smoltz went into the HOF and made his speech a few years ago.
57 — Can’t imagine that their defense won’t take a hit.
This inning does not bode well.
Well, bless my soul, another DP. OK, I’m going with it.
Dang – how’d I mess that up?
Well, I’m ashamed of myself. Thanks for the reminder. 2015 wasn’t that long ago!
Saved by the double play.
why don’t they do something? Bunt? Steal? PH for Flowers?
If Flowers had moved him over, that error would have scored a run. This team used to be exciting for using their speed.
#57
The Indians moved Kipnis to CF last year. Don’t know how that worked out.
Duvall is due.
Come on Duvall – – make your mark here.
Doesn’t look like the change of scenery has done him any good.
I’d rather see Culberson hit there.
The saddest words in baseball: “Adam Duvall is pinch hitting for you.”
Duvall has been useless, even for the spare parts we gave up. Joey Bats was better for us
The Phading Phillies are 8-15 since August 8.
I guess my pinch-hit preference in order of leverage but dependent on match-up would be Culberson->Duda->Flowzuki which could change very quickly. I’m not sure why Duvall is so high up the pecking order.
what a turd of a trade…even with tucker back it still seems like an overpay
I thought the Pirates would go to a righty when Duvall was announced, then we would go to Duda. But they weren’t going for it.
They probably felt like any old lefty could get Duvall out as well.
I think I’d have to put Tucker 4th on the list I just made, so he’d still be ahead of Duvall. I might want to go to Lane depending on match-up over Duvall at this point.
Two out errors scare me to death. I hope that boot by Dansby doesn’t cost us.
It’s gonna be something. When you don’t hit and have to play perfect baseball, something will happen.
Lane Adams had a horrendous year in Triple A for 2 teams and is only here to pinch run. Even Duvall would be ahead of him.
Whew.
@76 – They were right. If Duvall is the tying run, then he makes sense; with the go ahead run on 3rd and 2 out, not so much.
Acuña is pretty good.
Does Acuna realize he is our only offense?
Let’s see if Freddie can beat them late again.
Why do they wait until the 8th inning every day????
Error!
Ozzie is starting to become Francoeur as a hitter.
They left in Brault too long.
The 8th inning has been our inning this weekend.
Ozzie is definitely Frenchian lately.
Brault deserved a little better but he still wasn’t putting away anybody.
4 game lead!
I think it’s a great decision to pitch Touki tomorrow. Sometimes it’s easier to beat a great hitting team if you throw someone they can’t prepare for.
It’s sure hard to complain about our pitching. Every batter is a high leverage situation the way we’re hitting.
The weekend went almost the way I hoped it would – the only difference being the loss to the Cubs. A few days ago, I said I’d be happy with a split with the Rays, a win over the Cubs, and take 2 of 3 from the Pirates.
It’s good to have that 4 game lead because the Phils have a lot of games against the Mets and Marlins. A lot.
Newcomb vs the Red Sox seems like a bad match-up, so watch him pitch a shutout.
Dustin Peterson was DFA’ed.
Ronald Acuna treats fastballs like Inigo Montoya treats the man who killed his father.
Seven games vs. the Red Sox and Diamondbacks while the Phillies play the Marlins and Mets, though the Phillies are somehow 5-8 against the Mets in 2018.
Looking at the schedule, the Braves only have three games remaining this year against a true stinker of a team (Mets).
@95 – I’m a little sad that Peterson was DFA’d, but it makes a lot of sense. Ruiz would be my next choice to DFA. I just don’t see him ever being more than AAAA.
Recapped.
If the season ended today, we would play the D-Backs in the first round, according to MLB. I still haven’t looked up how the match-ups are determined.
Best record plays the wild card winner. Other two divisional winners play each other.
@98 Peterson is barely AAA much less AAAA.