Good morning from Jar Island, Western Australia, population 0.
While y’all were watching the Braves, I was looking at Gwion Gwion art from 40,000 years ago. I was trying to remember what else was significant about 40,000 years ago — oh, now I remember… It’s when the Pirates last had a good team. (I jest of course. And maybe if Barry Bonds‘ arm were stronger, the Pirates might have had a 1992 World Series to remember…. naah… But they’ll always have 1979,… and Bill Mazeroski in 1960.) Here are three examples of the ancient past: two of Gwion Gwion art and the third of Forbes Field. Unlike the rock art, you can’t see Forbes Field any more. They just don’t make ’em like they used to.
This game went like a typical Pirates game of the last 30 years, over which time the Pirates have gone 2087-2565, averaging about 73 wins per year, with three total playoff appearances back when Andrew McCutchen was a baseball player and not just a reminder to Pirate fans of what Might Have Been. The Return of the Young Phenom as Aging Icon is something baseball does a lot, which just shows both the emotional tug of the game on its fans and front office’s willingness to exploit aging players for a cheap media opportunity. You knew the Braves were bad in 2008 when they had room on the roster to give the 42 year old Tom Glavine 13 starts.
Of course, also on that 2008 team was the 24 year old rookie Charlie Morton, who got 15 starts and put up similar numbers to Glavine: 4-8 with a 6.51 ERA. He was exiled to Pittsburgh the next year in the deal that got us the briefly useful Nate McLouth. Sometimes, though, the return of the rookie actually means something to the team, and the return of Morton (who was of course never a star until well after he left the Braves, and for that matter, after his subsequent six years with the Pirates) has turned into something quite valuable. His return these last four years in Atlanta is less an exercise in nostalgia than the opportunity to finally get a return on his minor league training investment.
And we got Good Uncle Charlie tonight: 6 1/3 shutout innings against his old team to earn his first career win against the Pirates, completing his victory charm bracelet.
On the offense, a strong five run third was all that was needed. Now we just need to find a five run inning every night.
My Southern Hemispheric peregrinations conclude early next week, and I’ll be back boring you with obscure Retrosheet calculations in my next recap. Until then, no worries, as they say out here.
Saturday Game Thread
Today’s match is one for the pitching duel lovers. Max Fried takes on rookie sensation Paul Skenes. Here’s how the Braves will line up:
Great recap! Enjoy your travels, and let us know how the authentic bloomin’ onions taste out there!
For me, it’s a little hard for it to sink in how bad the Pirates have been for these past 30 years. For the 24 years before that, the period of two NL divisions, they were at the forefront of the Eastern Division. Between 1971 and 1993, they won the NL East nine times, and finished second another five times.
Kind of like my difficulty in recognizing how much worse Andrew McCutcheon has been in his mid to late thirties, compared to his mid to late twenties. He was excellent from 2012 to 2015, with an OPS+ averaging about 160. The last five years his OPS has ranged between 97 and 113.
Arcia needs to make that play. Since he doesn’t hit at all he needs to keep being way above average on defense.
I stand corrected…Arcia with a hit!
I love watching Max deal. I’m going to miss him a lot more than I’ve missed Freddie or Dansby.
What are the odds that he would take $200 million over 7 years? What are the chances AA would offer that?
EDIT—those were not meant to be rhetorical questions. I’d really like to know what this group thinks.
I don’t think Max would take it even if AA could offer it. Not yet anyway…
I really wish the bottom of our order would take a pitch when up 2-0 or 3-1 in the count. Both Arcia and Wall gave away counts and it isn’t like they are swinging it well.
Osuna is single-handedly trying to lose this game – 2 GIDPs and a K have killed three potential rallies. Kelenic seems to be the only hitter actually trying to win.
Seems like Olson has struck out like 7 ABs in a row or at least 7 or 8 of the last 10.
To be fair to Marcell, his two gidp’s were on 109 mph and 106 mph ground balls.
Not sure what difference that makes when we lose on hard GBs and warning track flies and the other team wins on 80 mph flares.
Jiménez is not fooling anyone recently.
Too many walks.
I get a kick out of you two. According to BRef, Jimenez has not given up a run in any of his last six starts. In the five starts before today he did not walk a batter.
Whew! Braves avoid getting run over by the Skenes hype train (nothing against him, just The Narrative). Nice to see Duvall make good in the end, too.
What a fun 10th inning! Incredible play at the plate (and good job, replay guys). And so good for Duvall to come through in the bottom of the inning.
I may have given up on Hernandez too soon. He looked like a 4a player with a great arm but very hittable stuff. I know he will eventually give up a few runs but he has looked great since he was called up this time