Well…my Atlanta Braves Come Sale Away with Me Game thread didn’t turn out as I expected…
I was so excited for Chris Sale Day and then the top of the 1st happened. Then the bottom of the 1st happened and I was thinking to myself: Chris Sale is about to rage win this game. Nope. He gave up 4. Then in the 4th, he gave up 2 more. His velo, although not by much, was down and his location was pretty awful. He labored through 4 innings and left down 8-3. Things looked bleak.
Then the moment that we’d all been waiting for…the bats come alive:
- Single by Orlando Arcia
- Double by Michael Harris II
- Single by Austin Riley
- Single by Marcell Ozuna
- Homerun by Matt Olson
- Walk by Travis d’Aarnaud
- Single by Adam Duvall
Atlanta Braves took the lead 9-8
Now…this is the time where I make a very rare complaint about Brian Snitker. His team is stuggling to hit and they just have their 2nd best inning of the year, and he leaves in Jimmy Herget. Yes, I know that Pierce Johnson is the one that gave up the double, but Jimmy is a scrap-heap pickup and, in no way, should he have been in that game entering the 6th. For team morale (and fan morale) go with your best. Unfortunately, Pierce Johnson gave up a lazy fly ball that was pushed to the fence for a double and that was the deciding factor of the game. Oakland tacked on 1 more run and the final tally, 11-9. Loss.
The Tide Will Turn for this Atlanta Braves Team
There’s no weak facet on this team. Even after Ronald Acuna Jr’s season ending injury, this team is still remarkably potent. The only weak spot is the bench and the bench never gets used. If the team can slump together, they can get hot together too.
Note to Braves Journalers
For a long time, I had difficulty with people coming to the blog just to complain. However, one thing that I really enjoy is to see people regularly visiting the blog as that is what keeps the virtual doors open. No matter if you’re mad, happy, sad, or poetic, please stay. Over the years, we’ve lost too many. When Mac left us there was a mass exodus and the blog nearly went under for a few years. I appreciate all of you tremendously as it’s provided me purpose outside of the chaos of having 3 young kids and teaching.
So…as long as you come here, post, and aren’t a meany pants to other commenters, you’re always welcome. Please stay.
Atlanta Braves Lineup
I hope the good Charlie Morton shows up today. We really need him.
Discussion On Ozzie Albies: Ozzie now ranks in the bottom 4th percentile in both arm strength and range. He’s costing the team outs regularly by not completing double plays and not getting to the balls in the hole. What does the future hold for him?
Perspective
Stephen Tolbert is a really good writer and while I rarely crosspost things from other Braves blogs, this is too good to pass up.
Losing is not fun, but hang in there.
AA is still better than any other PBO. Snit’s only as good as his players, but that’s plenty good enough. Injuries suck, but they do heal
The Braves will play better. Philadelphia is still Philly, and the Braves have bunches of games left with them.
So, get it together, team. Sooner would be better than later, but there’s still plenty of time.
In the meantime, enjoy the recaps. They’re the best.
Amen.
That Arcia looked and sounded like a HR off the bat. There’s definitely something going on with the ball.
In any game, the elements of skill and luck both have their parts to play. The Braves were lucky in most of 2023, then their luck ran out at the end of the season and has continued early this year. But part of skill is figuring out how to mitigate the effects of bad luck. Now we get to see if the Braves have the wherewithal to overcome what has been an unlucky early season.
Morton actually does well, and Lee blows it in one pitch because this offense can’t do diddly-poo.
This team is so cooked.
A late-inning rally, forsooth!
I want to like Arcia. But I just can’t. I wish we had someone in the minors pushing him.
That Justin Lewis stat about barrel%, hard hit%, and exit velocity makes all kinds of sense. When I watch them play, they look like a serious offensive team.
Nothing 3 runs won’t cure.
The Braves squeaked this one out, but they blew too many obvious scoring opportunities. Past players like Freeman, Peterson, and Soler were clutch. These Braves aren’t.