Well, if you’re a sucker for velo, then today is the game for you as Spencer Strider features a fastball that comes in at 98 MPH on average, and, believe it or not, Hunter Greene’s averages 99.9 MPH. Fortunately, Strider has better command and movement and that should be enough for the Braves to walk away with a sweep.
I know I’ve been talking a lot about Sam Hilliard, but I’m not going to stop, folks. Yesterday, Hilliard went 2-3 that included 2 doubles and a walk. Hilliard had always carried a reputation for hitting the ball hard, but now that Kevin Seitzer has gotten his sticky paws on him, Hilliard has turned that skillset into hits. Just yesterday, Hilliard had 3 balls in play with exit velos of 100.7, 104 and 114! With Michael Harris II out for another week, Hilliard will continue to get reps and, hopefully, earn some regular playing time over less desirables.
Speaking of exit velos, the Braves absolutely went nuts with hard hit balls yesterday:
If this team can keep hitting the ball hard, they might go through slumps, but hitting the ball hard is the key to winning games and this team hits the ball harder than any other team in the bigs.
Tonight’s Lineup
Rinse. Repeat. Get it, gents.
Recap will come tomorrow morning. GO BRAVES.
This was a predictable bases loaded failure
Edit- until RAJ come through!
Not so fast – that’s our Ronald!
Smurph!
It looks to me like Spencer’s having trouble commanding the fastball. The stuff is still unhittable, but when he’s right he blows a lot of fastballs by guys right in the heart of the zone, and that’s just not been happening much tonight.
Oh, Ozzie.
Any fastball low in the zone is hit-able, I think he needs to elevate it just a bit. Velo was fine at 98 during those high-stress ABs in the 3rd. He just isn’t efficient, and probably never will be. Puts a lot of pressure on the pen when one of your best starters only goes 4 innings.
If it was low in the zone, that would be incredible. With his cheese, it’s hard to hit no matter where he places it. But he’s been missing in all directions. He’s running deep counts because he’s missing with the slider – which is normal for him, it’s a chase pitch – but he’s also missing with the fastball, which is not.
The Roadrunner! Two scores from first on a Murphy double in 3 days.
Any word on Arcia? Nvm, tv crew said x-rays negative.
Luetge’s certainly not overpowering, but a 12-pitch, 1-2-3 inning with a strikeout and two groundouts is awfully nice to see.
The next inning, not so much. But we’re still in it, pending a Kali Jr. appearance.
I have no idea who’s in our pen from day to day, but I’m not sure how this guy can ever pitch in a close game.
Tough to get guts out when all you have is 84 mph junk. This guy is nil up only
Hope Arcia is ok. He’s actually been a bonus so far.
Also, and I hate to be that guy, but the ads on the new site are a real bummer to the experience. I know they are a reality, but I hate seeing this place look like so much of the rest of the internet. Literally saw 7 ads before I got through the comments.
This is the truth. Site is only usable with ad-block browsing enabled. On most mobile platforms that’s not the norm, and the experience is enough to make you never want to come back. Fix it before it’s too late.
I’m working on alternatives but those take awhile. Affiliates are the way to go and I’ve got interviews with 2 this coming week.
That’s great news Ryan. I only spoke up because I’ve been lurking and loving this place since the beginning and want to see it live on.
Appreciate the work you and others are doing.
that is good news, this has to be a big job to undertake. Totally appreciate the fefort you are putting in.
Is it possible to control where the ads appear? Having them at the top and/or bottom is not terrible, but having them embedded in the posts and comments is pretty annoying.
Luetge sucks. He needs to go away.
This is what you get when your starters can’t go more than 5 innings.
Seth Elledge was claimed by the Mets. Why he was DFAed when these guys saw Loser pitching is a mystery.
And if Kali Jr. was making the minimum he would likely be gone too.
Glad we swept the lowly Reds and also thankful we were playing the lowly Reds.
Rosario is coming around. Ozuna is not. Time for Ozuna to ride the pine or go away. I don’t care if he hits the ball hard; you actually have to hit it and he has way too much swing and miss.
The good news is that the Braves have the second best record in the majors.
I feel quietly confident that Rosario will have a good bounce-back season for us. Between him and Hilliard, they should give us respectable production from left-field.
Fingers crossed that Arcia can avoid time on the IL. Our depth is certainly being tested early on this season.
Cliff with last night’s recap!